Writ of Kalikasan: Financial, political motives behind complaint - Tommy

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said there are "financial and political motives" in the case filed against him before the Court of Appeals over the operation of the Inayawan landfill.

During the 5th River Summit yesterday, Osmeña told hundreds of college students that there are people who received millions in the city's transaction with a private hauler and the owner of the private landfill in Consolacion, where the city used to dump its garbage.

"Sa tinuod lang, naay mga tao nga nakakwarta sa transaction. The city was paying P700 a ton as tipping fee kon mo labay ta sa Consolacion. And the city is also paying P1,500 a ton to a private hauler who does not even own a garbage truck," he said.

Last Friday, Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera sought court intervention to stop the operation of the city's Inayawan landfill.

Garganera filed before the Court of Appeals a petition for the "Writ of Kalikasan" against Osmeña; Engineer William Cunado, officer-in-charge of the Environmental Management Bureau-7; and Emma Melana, chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7).

The Writ of Kalikasan is a legal remedy available against an unlawful act or omission of a public official or employee, or private individual or entity, involving environmental damage that prejudices the life, health or property of inhabitants in two or more cities or provinces.

Osmeña believes that Team Rama officials are forcing his administration "to go back to their system" wherein the city spends at least P600 million for the garbage disposal but there are still several uncollected garbage in the city's streets.

In a separate interview, Osmeña said he will continue to use the landfill even with the presence of the case.

"I think there are financial and political motives there. So that the city will have to spend money P600 million a year," he said.

"I will not allow other people to steal the money of the city," Osmeña added.

Garganera, for his part, said the reaction of the mayor is his "best justification."

"This is becoming a dead end for him. That's his best justification and I think he is already out of reason. He resorted to the most abused, most convenient scapegoat: politically and financially motivated," read Garganera's text message to THE FREEMAN.

Garganera said he is saddened that the mayor has no regard for the city's "environment, health, and safety."

 Meanwhile, Osmeña said the city government is already ready to implement the new program in collecting garbage in the barangay level, which includes giving a can of sardines for every kilo of garbage.

He said he has yet to select a model barangay that will pioneer the implementation of the program.

He is eyeing Barangays Lahug, Guadalupe or any barangay that has a large number of residents.

"Nangita ko og modelo nga daghan og tao, number one. Number two, naay problema kay lagyo kaayo ang dalan. Atong hatagan para mogawas tanang basura," he said.

He said the city is ready to implement the program anytime next week.

The city has fixed five barangay trucks to mobilize and collect the garbage in the streets.

Osmeña said the city will not just save money in disposing of garbage but will also assist the families in the barangay level to have something to eat. (FREEMAN)