Squad to monitor garbage disposal

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Department of Public Services has formed a squad to monitor “hot spot areas” for garbage in all barangay in Cebu City.

The group called “Commando Storm/Action Hot Spot Squad” conducts surprise inspections in identified impromptu dump sites in the different barangays.

These hot spot areas are where residents, who do not segregate their waste, dump their garbage indiscriminately. The non-segregated garbage are usually left at the area because garbage collectors no longer collect non-segregated garbage since the city implemented the “no segregation, no collection” policy.

DPS Chief Engineer Dionsio Gualiza said that the operation has helped a lot in educating the people to manage their waste properly.

Since they started their operations two weeks ago, they have apprehended more than 100 individuals and issued citation tickets to several barangays.

All those apprehended were caught in the act dumping non-segregated garbage in the road or any open dumpsite. All open dumpsites are now deemed illegal.

If the team found an open dumpsite or mounds of garbage in an area, the resident whose house is five meters from the mound of garbage shall be apprehended.

“Nakatabang gyod ni og maayo kay ang mga tawo di na muusab, mahadlok man sa penalty,” Gualiza said.

They usually conduct surprise inspection at night and early morning. The operations are joined by the DPS personnel, the police and the City Traffic Operations Management personnel.

“We will continue to work hard. After a month siguro we can give a detailed assessment. The mayor gave use six months to produce results,” he said.

The city government started implementing the new solid waste management policy last April 1 after the closure of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill.

The landfill is closed for dumping but is open for the processing of garbage at the Material Recovery Facility established in the area.

Garbage collectors are not allowed to collect non-segregated garbage, otherwise they cannot bring the garbage to the MRF in Inayawan.

The collection of garbage is by schedule —Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays are for biodegradable waste while the rest of the days of the week are for non-biodegradable waste.

Anyone who will be caught throwing non-segregated waste will be issued citation tickets with a fine ranging from P500 to P5,000. — /BRP (FREEMAN)