Barangays blink as lawyer dangles suit

CEBU, Philippines - Twelve of the 27 barangays in Mandaue City will install material recovery facilities (MRF) in their respective turfs after lawyer Benjamin Cabrido threatened to take the concerned village leaders to court.

The village leaders now have no reason not to comply because the city government already has provided a design of an MRF that will fit the barangays' budgets.

Engr. Gaga Mendoza, who is in-charge of the project, said he has already distributed a design that requires a 40-square meter lot for an MRF.

Mendoza said he is helping these barangays put up MRFs to prevent Cabrido from sending them a Notice of Violations next month in preparation for the filing of a case against them in court.

Early this year, Mayor Jonas Cortes gave each of the 27 barangays P100,000 for the installation of an MRF, on top of the P50,000 they received from the provincial government through its Expanding Greening With Environment (E-Gwen program).

Republic Act 9003 known as "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000" and collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay level specifically for biodegradable, compostable, and reusable waste.

These barangays include Opao, Looc, Subangdaku, Tipolo, Maguikay, Tingub, Paknaan, Centro, Tawason, Basak, Cabancalan, and Umapad.

Mendoza said the concerned barangay captains are receptive and have signified their intention to send their people to a seminar tomorrow.

This is in preparation for the actual setting up of an MRF in their barangays.

Meanwhile, Mendoza said he has involved the various parents-teachers organizations in various barangays in the solid waste management program.

He said he has already spoken to these organizations in Paknaan, Maguikay, Guizo, Cabancalan I and II, Casili, Banilad, and Centro. (FREEMAN)