EMB-7 probes SRP ‘dumpsite’

CEBU, Philippines — The Environmental Management Bureau-7 is looking into reports that the Cebu City government is dumping collected typhoon debris at an open area in the South Road Properties to see if the setup violates environmental laws and regulations.

“EMB-7 is looking into the matter,” said Paquito Melicor Jr., director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas.

EMB is an attached agency of the DENR.

The city is currently using the NOAH Complex area at the SRP as a dumping ground for debris left by Typhoon Odette, a move City Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman of the committee on environment, said is not illegal and only temporary.

But in the photos captured by The FREEMAN yesterday, the garbage pileup at NOAH included not only twigs and branches from fallen trees but also household wastes such as plastics bags, containers, bottles, and similar materials.

The photos also showed that the dumping site sits several meters away from a pond.

On the second day of the massive citywide cleanup on Sunday, January 2, at least 1,020 tons of garbage was collected in Cebu City, according to City Administrator Suzanne Ardosa after the City Hall flag-raising ceremony yesterday.

This was an increase from the 880 tons of garbage and debris collected on the first day last December 30.

“Dili pa perfect. Naa pay mga lugar nga wala pa makuha. Padayon ang atong limpyo, but basically, our major thoroughfares, limpyo na,” said Ardosa.

Ardosa thanked all the city government employees, the private sector, barangay officials, volunteers, among others, for participating in the two-part citywide cleanup.

Five teams were deployed in different parts of the city to clear typhoon debris and garbage. The Red Team was led by Market Administrator Raquel Arce; Yellow Team by lawyer Gerry Carillo; Blue Team by Engr. Joel Reston; Violet Team by Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources head Editha Peros; and Green Team by City Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team head Grace Luardo.

Stricter enforcement

Meanwhile, the city government is bent on going after residents who will indiscriminately throw their garbage in undesignated areas as a way of strictly enforcing City Ordinance No. 1361.

“Amo na nang i-impose ang kanang 1361 nga city ordinance penalizing those violators nga nagpataka og labay sa ilang basura,” said City Councilor Jerry Guardo who is one of those tasked to oversee the clearing operations in Cebu City.

Guardo said that during the two-day massive clearing and cleanup in the city, they told residents properly dispose of their garbage.

He added that barangay officials are also expected to maintain cleanliness in their respective jurisdictions, as well as monitor residents’ compliance with the ordinance.

Now that major thoroughfares in the city have been cleared, the city government is in the process of clearing secondary roads of debris and garbage.

After this, two teams will be deployed – one the north and one in the south district – to secure leaning electrical and telco posts and lines, especially in the interior portions.

Each team is composed of personnel from the Visayan Electric, telecom companies, quick response team, along with personnel from the City Parks and Playgrounds and Engineering Department.

“I’ll be spearheading the team and I am forming duha ka teams. Naa na mi report coming from the ground asa to dapita ang dili pa passable nga mga sitios kay duna pay naka-block,” said Guardo. – Mary Ruth L. Malinao, Caecent N. Magsumbol, JMD (FREEMAN)