CEBU, Philippines — A coalition of environmental groups has questioned Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s signing of a joint venture agreement (JVA) with the New Sky Energy Philippines, Inc. for the construction of a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility in the city.
The EcoWaste Coalition said the mayor’s signing of an agreement is like holding the city “hostage to a long-term and toxic garbage incinerator contract.”
“Mayor Rama’s approval and signing of a 40-year agreement with a garbage incinerator company undermines citizens’ effort to minimize and reduce their waste, while locking-in the city to a very long tenure of dirty and expensive waste management system,” said Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition.
“Instead of pursuing a technology that has bankrupted several US cities like Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, the city should focus on using public funds to invest in critical measures that will protect public health and the environment, and contribute meaningfully to reducing climate impacts, such as zero waste strategies,” Lucero added.
The agreement is also questionable considering that the company has yet to build their facility aside from the fact that it would be more expensive for the city.
Per the JVA, the New Sky Energy Philippines, Inc. will invest P4.8 billion to construct the WTE garbage disposal facility. In return, the city is obligated to use the facility and pay a tipping fee higher than the current base fees being paid by the city for using landfills.
Paeng Lopez, Program Manager of the Health Care Without Harm, said that incinerators, disguised as WTE facilities, emit toxic pollutants such as dioxin, lead, and mercury to the environment.
A WTE facility will burn waste to produce electricity, which is part of Rama’s vision of a Singapore-like Cebu City.
Lopez said the health of families who will find themselves living near the proposed incinerator facility will be sacrificed, particularly children, the elderly, and other vulnerable members of the community.
The EcoWaste Coalition and various organizations are preparing to contest the legality of the JVA “due to the lack of public consultation and its rushed approval of the City government,” in addition to the various public health, environmental risks, and climate impacts of the project.
No facility, no permit
As previously reported, lawyer Razilee Rae Ligaray, New Sky's in-house counsel, said that they are still looking for an area where the WTE facility could be built.
Among the places that they are checking are Barangays Agsungot, Pamutan, Guba, and Pardo.
Ligaray said they aimed to acquire the required 6-hectare lot, and process required permits and clearances within one year from the signing of the JVA. This means that the company entered into an agreement with the city government without a facility yet and the required pre-requisites to operate such as the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and other permits from government regulators.
Ligaray explained that the facility will be constructed within two years. They aimed to start operation by 2024.
Lawyer Collin Rosell, secretary to the mayor, said that the city government will conduct an evaluation once New Sky selects the location for the WTE facility.
This, to ensure its swift implementation and that no individuals will be affected by the project especially when it comes to sanitation, safety, and others. – FPL (FREEMAN)