City eyeing stadium at landfill

CEBU, Philippines - If closure of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill will push through, the Land Management Council of the Cebu City government is proposing on the construction  of a stadium to make use of the lot.

Atty. Jade Ponce, consultant of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and chairman of the city’s Land Management Council said this is one option they are proposing if the closure of the landfill would take place.

“We have a vision. Kani gwapo na proposal. A stadium, kay we don’t have a stadium yet even if this is growing city (We have a vision. This is a nice proposal. A stadium, because we don’t have a stadium yet even if this is a growing city),” said Ponce.

Apart from the said proposal, Ponce said that two other options are for the rehabilitation and beautification of the landfill for the construction of a park or a housing project.

Ponce was tasked by Rama to finalize the closure plan for the landfill.

The closure plan includes an assessment of the present condition of the landfill and recommendation of the proposed post-closure land use, including the required physical infrastructure for the landfill’s post-closure management.

“Yes, i-pursue ang closure plan pero mo decide usa ang board (Solid Waste Management) and then mo consult ta sa public,” Ponce said.

Earlier, Cebu City Councilor Nida Cabrera asked Rama to fast-track the process of formulating the closure plan for the landfill since the landfill has reached its maximum capacity and is already posing hazards to the public’s health as well as in the environment.

The 15-hectare facility has been in operation for 15 years already.

Rama though expressed his intention to continue the operations of the landfill.

“I have been going towards that direction to make it operational but there were some interventions not entertained by the council and there were always problems along the way like logistical requirements,” Rama explained.

One of these, according to Rama were the studies presented for the immediate closure of the landfill.

The study conducted by the University of San Carlos entitled “Fate and transport of chromium, lead and mercury in the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill” revealed the alarming presence of toxic substances at the landfill which are above average levels, likely generated from mercury-contained household solid waste products.  (FREEMAN)