CEBU, Philippines - A Talisay City councilor who belongs to the minority bloc has vowed to question Mayor Socrates Fernandez's move that would allow the transformation of an old dumpsite into a resettlement area.
"It's a danger zone kay wap-a man ni ma-rehabilitate. Naa pa nay methane gas," Councilor Romeo Villarante said.
Villarante, along with fellow minority councilors Danny Caballero and Val Ylanan, met with Ma. Llura Layon of the Philippine Commission for the Urban Poor last Tuesday.
Quoting Layon, Villarante said the half-a-hectare old dumpsite in barangay Biasong is occupied by at least 60 families. The dumpsite was closed in the late 2005 following the Department of Environment and Natural Resources's cease and desist order issued to all open dumpsites all over the country.
The mayor reportedly allowed these homeless residents to build shanties in that "danger zone," said Villarante. But even if Fernandez's action was done in good faith, putting these people in such a hazardous environment is still not a good idea, the councilor said.
Villarante said the old dumpsite should be given at least five years to undergo rehabilitation. But the city, reportedly apart from filling the entire area with limestone, has not taken steps to prevent leaks of old waste's leachate and of methane gas. The place also gets flooded during rainy days.
Villarante said the mayor's move was "not sanctioned" by the city's Local Housing Board, which was created to supposedly take care of the matter.
Based from reports, Fernandez would give his traditional "notes" or what is termed by the people in the city hall as "reseta" to a homeless family who wishes to build a house in the old dumpsite.
But people from his office had allegedly taken advantage of the situation and sell lot rights for P800 to P2,000 for every lot, said the councilor. (FREEMAN)