Garcia to inspect Binaliw landfill

CEBU, Philippines — Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia is personally looking into the complaints against the alleged foul odor emitted from a private landfill in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City.

Garcia said he was already made aware of the complaints from the residents in Barangay Binaliw against the foul smell surrounding the area of the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and Sanitary Landfill operated by Prime Integrated Waste Solutions, Inc. (PWSI).

"Of course, I am very concerned about this particular issue and I cannot give you feedback unless I visit the area," said Garcia.

Former Apas barangay captain Ramil Ayuman posted on Facebook the complaints of the residents of Binaliw against the foul odor from the landfill. According to the residents, they have endured the unpleasant smell since the previous management of the landfill until now.

The stench has reportedly reached up to Sitio Mansawa in Barangay Binaliw.

Randy Maglasang, a security guard of a nearby subdivision, also claimed that the foul odor has been experienced by the residents since 2018. He said the stench would sometimes last for 24 hours.

Garcia said he had already seen the video posted online complaining about the foul smell from the landfill. The acting mayor said he will personally visit the facility to see for himself if the complaints are true.

Garcia said he will also write a letter to both the PWSI and the former operator of the landfill, ARN Central Waste Management Inc.

"I will write them a letter but I will also visit their plant so I can see for myself if indeed emanating from their operations. Kay to smell is to believe baya," he said.

Garcia said he will tag along during his visit the heads of the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Department of Public Services (DPS) among other concerned agencies.

CLARIFICATION

Meanwhile, Engineer Arnold Espinosa has clarified an earlier news report about a complaint he supposedly filed, on behalf of the former shareholders of ARN Central Waste Management Inc., against PWSI for alleged environmental violations.

Espinosa admitted sending a letter to the Environmental Management Bureau – Region VII on July 3, 2024 but only to ask the agency to verify possible violations and to inform the regulatory agency that any violations should not be attributed to the former operators of the landfill.

Espinoza said their shares in the private sanitary landfill and materials recovery facility in Brgy. Binaliw were already purchased by PWSI in 2023.

“We   believe   it   is   only   reasonable   for   us   to   notify   EMB   VII   considering   that   some obligations under the Amended ECC dated 3 June 2020 and violations thereof, such as

the foul odor reported by the residents around the facility, may continue to be ascribed to

us simply because we were the former owners of the facility,” Espinoza said in a statement.

“Lest it   be misconstrued, the aforementioned   letter   to the EMB  VII is   solely   for  the protection of ACI's former shareholders, given that we no longer have any influence over the operations of the company and its compliance, or non-compliance, with   applicable environmental laws and regulations,’ he added. FPL (CEBU NEWS)