Labella to work on trash, flooding in first 100 days

CEBU, Philippines — With the onset of the rainy season, a massive cleanup of waterways and drainage systems will be one of the priority projects of Cebu City’s new administration.

Incoming mayor Edgardo Labella said he will meet with all 80 barangay captains in his first 100 days in office – whatever their political affiliation may be – to arrive at a unified approach to the problem of garbage and flooding.

“I will talk to all the barangay officials whether for us or not with us…for us to make a policy to prevent the return of the litter… maglimpyo gyud and, at the same time, i-implement nato ang segregation in the household in the barangay level,” he told The FREEMAN.

Over the weekend, a downpour brought back into the open the perennial problem of improper garbage disposal, as mounds of trash were seen clogging waterways and floating in floodwaters.

Labella said the city will enforce a strict collection and disposal policy so that garbage will not go to the drainage systems.

As a short term solution, Labella said waterways, canals, and creeks will be dredged and cleaned and the city will be strict in monitoring garbage disposal.

He said the Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued a memorandum imposing sanctions on barangay officials who will fail to do their part in garbage collection.

As a long term solution, a comprehensive drainage plan will have to be put in place, once and for all, Labella said.

“For the long term, of course, the comprehensive drainage plan of the city. Immediately, I will convene a committee on that to undertake the comprehensive drainage plan of the city,” he said.

Labella said he will also coordinate and collaborate with neighboring local government units like Mandaue City and Talisay City for an integrated solution to the flooding problem in Metro Cebu.

Labella also vowed to work with the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board’s Mega Cebu program, which outgoing mayor Tomas Osmeña snubbed.

The MCDCB is a coordinating body for metro-wide planning and development on sustainable and long term projects for the whole Metro Cebu. It is composed of representatives of Metro Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Danao, Talisay, Naga, and Carcar, as well as the municipalities of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Cordova, Minglanilla, and San Fernando.

Labella said the previous City Council actually authorized him to attend MCDCB meetings but Osmeña, upon winning as mayor in 2016, reportedly barred him from representing the city in the board.

He said he already started conversations with incoming governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Mandaue City mayor-Elect Jonas Cortes, and plans to talk to Talisay City mayor-Elect Gerald Anthony Gullas about a comprehensive drainage master plan. (FREEMAN)