Council okays P19.5 million to address jail stench

CEBU, Philippines — After receiving several complaints, Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival has asked the executive department to expedite the process in hiring a service provider that will do the dislodging of wastes from the Cebu City Jail.

Archival, who heads the task force to address the concerns of the stench from the jail, said the City Council already placed Barangay Kalunasan under a state of calamity for a faster action.

“Unahon na gyud nato ang contractor nga mo-dislodge sa septic kay nagsige napod og reklamo sa kabaho,” he told The FREEMAN.

Two weeks ago, the City Council approved the use of P19.5 million from the disaster funds to mitigate the problem.

The budget will be used to purchase two trucks at P8.44 million each; P480,000 for the dislodging of the septic tanks at least twice a week; and P1.97 million to cover the canals outside the jail facilities.

Archival said the city government should process first the P480,000 dislodging of the septic tanks since it is the short-term solution of the problem.

“Mao ning gi-declare nato nga state of calamity para ma-address nato ni nga concern. Guba man ang STP sa jail maong ang tanang hugaw ma-derecho gyud sa canal maong grabe ka baho,” he added.

Even with the declaration of a state of calamity, Archival said the city needs the resolution from the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council to use the disaster funds.

Archival is the chairman of the task force that will address the problem, while Councilor Joel Garganera sits as the vice chairman. The members include Councilors Eduardo Rama, Jr., Renato Osmeña, Jr., Alvin Dizon, Raymond Alvin Garcia, and Jerry Guardo.

Sought for comment, Atty. Gerardo Carillo, special assistant to the mayor on disaster matters, said the CCDRRMC has yet to meet to discuss the matter.

While the procurement for the service provider is underway, Carillo said he would ask the city’s Department of Public Services to spray deodorizer that would eliminate the stench.

Carillo said the CCDRRMC will meet to discuss on how the city would address the problem immediately especially that it affected the people living near the area.

Lawyer John Jigo Dacua, head of Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office, said the city government has the solution regarding the city jail septage problem.

“The immediate solution is to regularly dislodge. By regular would mean every day dislodging. The long term solution would be to install a new facility that fits the standard of today,” he added. — GAN (FREEMAN)