CPA wants bio-fence installed in Tejero

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu Port Authority is asking the Cebu City Environmental and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) to install bio-fence at Sitio Silangan, Barangay Tejero to prevent garbage from entering Pier 3 in the port area.

In a letter dated November 28, CPA General Manager Angelo Verdan said the bio-fence installed along Mahiga Creek has helped reduced the trashes into the port’s berthing areas.

“As you know that these rubbishes are unpleasing to see when it go through to our berthing areas. That is why we provided garbage-pickers just to pick-up these trashes at the coastline,” he said.

Verdan commended the environmental initiative of CENRO for installing bio-fences along Mahiga Creek.

Since the bio-fences have been effective in minimizing the volume of garbage that goes to the port area, Verdan requested for another bio-fence to be installed in Barangay Tejero.

CENRO chief Ma. Nida Cabrera said her office will install bio-fence in Barangay Tejero within the first week of January. Other than the CPA, she said her office also received requests for installation of bio-fences in Barangays Mabolo, Bacayan, and Pit-os.

“We’re asking them to collect plastic bottles. Ang CENRO ra ang mohimo sa bio-fence,” she said.

As of now, she said her office is still making bio-fence which is made up of recycled plastic bottles that are wrapped in fishnets. CENRO launched the bio-fence last September. Since then CENRO has installed six bio-fences in Mahiga Creek, Barangay Tejero creek near its barangay hall, Barangay Tinago, Barangay Pasil, Barangay Suba, and Barangay Sawang Calero.

For this month, Cabrera said the city has collected 18 tons of garbage trapped by the bio-fences.

“Gawas sa Pasil, makita nga nakat-on na gyud ang mga tao kay sige man pod namo og sulti nga dili na gyud molabay og basura sa sapa or creek. Kita man pod sila unsa kalisod ang magkuha og basura sa sapa ug dagat,” she said.

“Akong hangyo sa mga tao nga maikog nalang pod sila og labay og basura sa dagat ug sapa o bisag asa kay magsugod nami’g intensify pod sa apprehension nila human sa Sinulog next year,” she added.

Cabrera said her office is also developing a design of a bio-fence which can be installed in drainage systems. — FPL (FREEMAN)