CH only 50% ready for landfill closure

CEBU, Philippines - Five days before the target date to fully stop the Inayawan Landfill operation, Cebu City officials yesterday admitted that they are still a little over 50-percent ready.

But despite this reality, Mayor Michael Rama is confident that everything will be put in order before he signs the Cessation Order for the landfill next week because the members of the Solid Waste Management Board, the concerned department heads and the barangay officials are meeting almost everyday for the preparation.

Engr. Randy Navarro, Department of Public Services assistant head and landfill manager, said among the concerns they are addressing are the budget for the rental of equipment, the truck ban imposed by Mandaue City, the establishment of the transfer station and the formalization of the contract with the operator of the private landfill in Consolacion where they are set to divert their garbage.

Navarro said they would need a budget for the rental of heavy equipment such as two pay loaders and 10 garbage trucks if they will pursue the transfer station.

He said he does not have the estimate for the needed budget yet but the rental for the pay loader will already cost them P1,500 per hour of use.

He said the transfer station will be open for 24 hours which might mean that they will have to pay P36,000 everyday. Granting the pay loaders will be of use for eight hours a day, they will need P360,000 a month.

The rental of dump trucks, he said, is being negotiated. Whether the trucks will be rented per hour, per trip or per day is still being debated.

Luckily, Navarro said, they have a P12 million stand-by fund to pay for the tipping fee at Consolacion Sanitary Landfill enough for two months.

Navarro said the P12 million is their savings from closing the landfill for dumping last April.

“Since wala naman ta nipalit og deodorizer and Anapog, naka-save ta. Mao na atong gamiton para tipping fee didto sa Consolacion,” Navarro said.

The contract with the operator of the private landfill in Consolacion, which needs to be signed before the city can start dumping, has not been signed by the Mayor yet.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said the Bids and Awards Committee is already finished with the procurement evaluation process.

“Documents for signature sa Mayor should he approve the BAC recommendation,” Poblete said.

Poblete refused to reveal how much the city will be paying per ton of garbage that the city will divert to the private landfill until the Mayor finally signs the contract.

“Premature pa muhisgot og presyo kay wala pa’y P. O. (purchase order). Suffice it to say that they offered a graduated rate,” Poblete added.

Navarro said there are some things that need to be fixed in the private lot eyed for the transfer station.

He added that they will consider the truck ban that Mandaue imposed on its roads which means the hours of collection might change from morning to night time.

Navarro said the truck ban is most likely to be imposed during the day especially during rush hour so they will collect and transport the garbage during night time to also avoid traffic.

They plan to take the Talamban-Pit-os route when going to the landfill and the Mandaue route going back to the city. - THE FREEMAN