Osmeña tells Mactan Rock to look into foul smell coming from 2 jails

Mayor Tomas Osmeña will ask water supplier Mactan Rock Industries to look into the situation at barangay Kalunasan where residents have complained over foul smell reportedly coming from the new city and provincial jails.

Osmeña said he would ask Mactan Rock to study the possibility of integrating the sewage system of the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center and the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. Mactan Rock is the water provider of the Metro Cebu Water District.

Aside from this, Osmeña said he would also ask the firm to study the possibility of putting up a facility that would recycle sewage into reusable water for flushing.

The mayor also stressed that he is supporting the stand of the barangay officials in Kalunasan to disallow further digging of wells by both jail facilities. "We'll not allow them to drill...just tell me and I will call the SWAT."

Osmeña said he already advised the barangay residents to file a formal complaint before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources because the jail facilities reportedly do not have a proper drainage system, as manifested by the foul smell, and that the wastes from the facilities may affect the barangay's water supply.

Kalunasan barangay councilman Oliver Ocampo said the managements of both jail facilities failed to employ measures that would prevent the foul odor from spreading to the nearby residential areas.

The barangay council had objected to the transfer of BBRC to the area because the jail has no proper drainage system and water supply for the inmates.

Ocampo said they only approved the transfer of CPDRC to their area because many of their residents have been occupying the province-owned lot in the barangay.

Both BBRC and CPDRC are dependent on the barangay's water source. - Joeberth M. Ocao