Driver transporting unsorted garbage threatens CESET staff

CEBU, Philippines - Showing that the Cebu City Government is really serious in implementing waste segregation, its environmental officers apprehended over the weekend 182 garbage truck drivers for transporting unsegregated trash.

The garbage was brought to a private landfill in Barangay Polog, Consolacion town and in Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City.

One of those arrested was told to show up at Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama's office today for threatening those who accosted him.

Grace Luardo, City Environment Sanitation and Enforcement Team (CESET) head, said citation tickets were issued to all apprehended drivers, 34 of whom were assigned with the City Department of Public Services (DPS), while the rest were barangay garbage truck drivers.

She alleged that DPS driver Florante Ardenio even threatened her personnel, Jose Jumao-as and Joel Regodo, for issuing him a citation ticket.

"Giingnan ang duha nako ka tawo nga naa ra ba mo sa bukid basin og ipalubong ta mo, bisan og ipaabot pa na ninyo sa inyong mayor (They were told that he would have them buried in the mountains and does not mind even if his threat reaches the mayor)," Luardo said.

She said already informed Rama about the statement of Ardenio, who was ordered to report to the mayor's office this morning.

"Dili na maayo nga mag-inisog sila kon tinuod nga trabaho ang ilang tuyo (It is not good that he would get angry if he is really just working)," Luardo said.

Rama had announced last month that the city would strictly implement Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, by not collecting at source unsorted garbage.

The law requires households and commercial establishments to separate or segregate biodegradable wastes from recyclable or reusable items.  It also provides that government officials who fail to implement the provisions of Republic Act 9003 will be charged in court.

But Luardo said only seven garbage trucks hauled segregated wastes to the landfill and these were barangay garbage trucks.

Since the city started enforcing the a "no segregation, no collection" of garbage a few years ago, close to 10,000 had already been apprehended, some of whom had been brought to court while others paid P500 as "amicable settlement" for the violation.

Lawyer Jade Ponce, Cebu City Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) presiding officer, said some violators opted to pay the P500 compromise fine while others rendered community service.

The city government had stopped dumping garbage at the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill, which is now merely used as transfer station, where small garbage trucks transfer their wastes to huge DPS trucks, which are the ones that bring the garbage to Consolacion.

The city is paying P700 for every ton of garbage brought to the private landfill.

The city's policy is that biodegradable wastes are collected from homes during Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, while non-biodegradable wastes are gathered during Tuesdays, Thursday and Saturdays.

Tisa Barangay Captain Philip Zafra, Association of Barangay Councils president and City Council ex-officio member, said he wants the garbage law strictly implemented.

"Malooy unta ta sa mga barangay pero kanus-a pa man ta mag-inistrikto aron ang mga barangay mopatuman 'sab sa balaod ngadto sa ilang mga mulopyo? (We can take pity on the barangays, but when should the barangays enforce the law on its residents?)" he said.—/RHM  (FREEMAN)