Long-ignored, long-neglected Binaliw!

Earlier, I had mulled weaving today’s theme around the interrelationship of worship-waste-welfare.

Will the worshippers for Señor Santo Niño and revelers during the Sinulog again dispose huge volumes of unsegregated waste in Cebu City?

Can Cebu Archbishop Abet and Cebu City Mayor Archival, both noted environmentalists, enjoin worshippers/revelers to be more mindful/responsible for their own wastes during this year’s celebration?

What can the Church/city do separately and/or jointly, with multisectoral partnerships, to avert another surge of unsegregated waste costly for people and our common home, our earth?

Waste expenses also deplete scarce funds intended for people’s welfare. While waste collection and disposal have committed huge monthly/annual budget, the city’s poor/PWDs don’t or have less allocation.

If only all responsibly manage/segregate wastes this Sinulog that will benefit both people/planet, wouldn’t that realize/restore God’s wonderful created world for all?

Sadly, the Binaliw tragedy happened. With you all in prayers that no more casualties will be found and all missing safely rescued.

Despite continuing years of controversies/noted violations/persistent complaints known to/acknowledged by city/regional environmental agencies related to the Binaliw Landfill/dumpsite, from its planning to its implementation/and present operations, why did the January 8 Binaliw basura collapse take place?

Had officials taken action, imposed strict sanctions/regulations about the Binaliw operations and conducted serious/regular monitoring, would that recent Binaliw tragedy have been averted and people/nature better/sustainably protected?

Interviewed Binaliw residents and a worker of Prime Integrated Waste Solutions Inc. (PIWS) - the present private operator of the Binaliw landfill after ARN Central Waste Management Inc. (ACI), have earlier aired their concern/uneasiness over the increasing dangerous height of the disposed waste in the area long before the tragedy took place.

Bangaw, baho, basura, untreated wastewater, water contamination, polluted air, others - just as these complaints of the Binaliw and neighboring Consolacion residents have continued to be ignored/without any serious official response in favor of the complainants and none as well for violators, it is no wonder why the Binaliw tragedy took place, claimed a life and caused injuries with many still missing awaiting rescue, recovery, extraction.

Given the primacy of Binaliw for Cebu City waste management resolution, why was a mountain of garbage allowed to grow to such dangerous/deadly height?

Where was the regular monitoring/inspection of the landfill, both by government and private company officials/personnel?

Will the tragedy be thoroughly reviewed and those responsible for the neglect/violations of the Binaliw landfill finally be duly penalized?

All others, however, who irresponsibly dispose their unsegregated waste in their households, communities, groups, organizations, offices, institutions, schools, churches, among others, have contributed and continue to allow the Binaliw basura mountain to rise to dangerous/deadly height and situation!

This Bob Dylan song released in 1963, with some lyric revisions, comes to mind: “How many years can a Binaliw basura mountain exist, before it collapses/kills/and injures?

“How many years can Binaliw people exist, before they're allowed to breathe clean air? How many can times can officials turn their heads and pretend that they just don't see the violations?

“Yes, 'and' how many ears must one official have before he can hear people cry? Yes, 'and' how many deaths will it take 'til officials know that too many people have died and been injured?

Must we just accept this- “The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind, the answer is blowin' in the wind?”

Providentially, will this tragedy provide the proper opportunity/timing for RA 9003 to be strictly implemented and non-compliance duly penalized as continuing non-segregation/waste disposal to dumpsites/landfills can kill/injure, just as the ongoing Binaliw tragedy has sadly/clearly reminded all?

Remember how basura also continues to cause floods throughout streets/communities and cause deaths/destruction/despair for many?

Shall TODAY be Day 1 for us all to comply/strictly segregate our own household/community waste and help save our lives, those of others, and Mother Earth?

Waste starts from everyone’s hands. Use/share your hands to manage/solve waste.