Tom defends basura project

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña was quick enough to defend his pet project “Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko” from criticisms from the opposition camp.

He admitted that even if the city government spends more on the  project, it has been very effective in lessening the garbage and in helping the marginalized sectors.

 “Correct (the project is costly), but it is more effective and we save on drainage, because ato limpyohon atong drainage and we are helping those who are hungry,” he said in response to Councilor Joel Garganera’s claim that the project will not work and is just a waste of resources.

“If you are very narrow-minded like Garganera and just look at the aspect of garbage collection (then it won't work). That’s why it’s a pilot project and we are still evaluating this. This encourages people not to throw garbage to the drainage and other waterways. That’s where we spend millions and we have to spend a billion pesos to fix our drainage,” Osmeña added.

Records of the city’s Department of Public Services show that 670 tons of garbage are collected daily in the city.

Garganera, chairman of the City Council committee on environment, said the city has already spent roughly P5 million for the project but is not earning income from it.

At present, the city reportedly spends close to P26 million for garbage disposal.

 “Garbage collection is not an income-generating project. There are no kickbacks here; not like during the time of Mike Rama. Mogasto sila, walay klaro,” Osmeña said.

Osmena said that expenses would decrease if only the council would allow him to use the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill.

 “That’s why we want to use our own landfill so that we don’t have to pay a lot of more and now they are faulting us? We use our existing landfill, and we’ll save lot money – more than half of our garbage collection… They are trying to make us use Consolacion because maybe, they are making a lot of money out of Consolacion. They are blocking everything else. No way. We’re doing what we can for the city of Cebu – for the people of Cebu,” Osmeña said.

 The mayor emphasized that the project has been helping the poor constituents of the city by providing them livelihood.

 “The people receiving it are not people like barangay officials… they are people who are hungry. You want sardines? Collect the garbage, bring it and we’ll give it (sardines) to you. Mas maayo nalang ang atong mga pobre mokawat ang atong kuwarta, kumpara sa mga tao ni Garganera,” Osmeña said.

The basura project aims to minimize the garbage in the city, especially at the South Coastal Road where every bag of trash is exchanged for a can of sardines. The project is currently piloted in Barangays Cogon, Pardo, and Lahug.

Barangay Lahug Councilwoman Hazel Ann Muaña Empleo said the project has brought changes in their community, noting that some residents are already practicing proper waste disposal.

Before, she said, trashes were littered in the river.

Cogon-Pardo Barangay Captain Harry Eran, for his part, said the project has also  helped his barangay in educating the residents on the importance of waste disposal.— Nova E. Valizado and Hannah T. Tesorio (FREEMAN)