Barangay chief asks city to intervene in garbage rift

CEBU, Philippines - Labangon Barangay Captain Victor Buendia has asked the Cebu City government to intervene in the supposed dispute with Barangay Calamba over a problem in garbage collection.

Buendia alleged that Calamba officials have not answered Labangon’s communication on the matter.

“Gusto gyud mi ma-resolve ni nga problem kay maka-cause man pud og baha gud maong mi-send mi og communication sa Barangay Calamba officials pero wala gyud gihapon mi kadawat og feedback from them,” he said.

Buendia said the residents should take part in maintaining cleanliness in the barangay.

“Naa man pud gud mga residente nga mga gahi og ulo,” he said.

Calamba Barangay Captain Maria Yvonne Feliciano admitted that she was not able to answer Buendia’s communication because they are attending to more important matters at present.

“Willing kaayo mi mo-resolve, pero daghan paman mi og mga gi-process nga unliquidated sa previous administration ug other important nga buhaton sa council,” she said.

Feliciano claimed the collection of garbage should not even be an issue because the two barangays are reportedly not at odds.

 “Na-shock lang gyud ko ba nganong nidako ni siya. Puwede man mi magkaestorya ni Capitan (Buendia),” she said.

She admitted that the barangay failed to collect garbage at times especially during rainy days.

“Dili man gud mi makalabay sa Inayawan kun ting-uwan gud maong magpundo among basura sa sakyanan. Usahay pud magkaproblema ang among sakyanan,” she said.

Buendia and Feliciano said they are undertaking declogging activities as preventive measures. Both barangays officials agreed that garbage in the area is one contributor to the flood problem.

According to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Mines and Geosciences Bureau-7, Labangon has three sitios that are highly susceptible to floods: Lutaw-lutaw, Labsalex and Shangrila Subdivision.

There were also identified in Calamba: Minulida, Paglaum and Upper San Roque.

DENR-MGB-7 said the sitios identified are not prone to landslide, but susceptibility can be classified through flood height (one to two meters), flood duration (more than three days) and landform or geomorphic features (topographic lows such as active and abandoned river channels, and areas along river banks).

An area can also be highly susceptible to floods if its drainage density is closely-spaced. (FREEMAN)