Proposal awaits council’s nod

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and City Legal Officer, Atty. Jerome Castillo, have already approved two proposals of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to conduct a pilot study to be integrated in the closure plan of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill.

But, Atty. Jade Ponce, consultant of the mayor’s office and chairman of the city’s Land Management Council, said that Rama is still waiting for the approval of the City Council after the proposals were forwarded two weeks ago to Councilor Nida Cabrera.

JICA’s proposals include the project study for refuse derived fuel (RDF) for solid waste management for the landfill and for the septic waste.

According to Ponce, JICA being the sponsoring body has tapped Mansi and Amcom, Inc. both from Yokohama, Japan, Cebu’s sister city, to conduct a rigid study of the landfill at no cost for the city government.

“This is a project study that JICA will bring all necessary equipment, technical people and they are going to operate that with the city, free of charge. So, wa’y gasto ang syudad even ang Customs expenses JICA tanan,” Ponce said.

On the other hand, Cabrera, a member of the Cebu City Waste Management Board, clarified that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will determine and decide as to the efficiency and credibility of the study prior to the closure plan.

Cabrera said that Rama can initially implement a closure plan but DENR will act as an implementing body for the approved closure plan.

Cabrera also said that the proposals of JICA will still be subjected to a thorough study.

The physical closure and rehabilitation plan, post closure management plan, post closure monitoring plan and closure land use plan are the bases of the approval.

Part of the process, Cabrera said that the consultant shall also evaluate the relevant information on-site that are essential for an environmentally sound closure and improvement of the facility.

The closure plan will be submitted to Environmental Management Bureau of DENR-7 to acquire the required Authority to close.

DENR will identify the areas within the landfill that can still be utilized for related activities such as Materials Recovery Facilities (MRF), composting and related waste management program.

Meanwhile, Rama yesterday left for Manila to meet with an investor and to seek an audience of some government agencies to raise some concerns.

“There are many things that I would like to be attending there. I’m hoping I’d get to DBM (Department of Budget and Management) and then to DOTC (Department of Transportation and Communication) and then my primary (purpose of going to Manila) is that I will be having a discussion with an investor who has been very… intensely signifying… locating at SRP,” Rama told reporters.

But the mayor refused to name the potential South Road Properties investor heeding his request to remain unknown while still at the negotiation stage.

“I do not want to be revealing yet… Kay mao man to’y ingon nila nga ayaw lang sa isulti sa media,” he added.

Both city government and the investor’s camps have initially laid down their own requirements.

“We have to go through the process. I don’t have to be proving to anyone except to the people of the City of Cebu who voted for me,” Rama said.

He planned to clarify with DBM matters pertaining to finances involving the city and the national government.

“I need to discuss with them just simple matters on what belongs to the city. Because there are national things that should be clarified kay magsige sila’g announce nga naa’y mga available money, funding, saving, etcetera. Where do they come in? That’s precisely the reason why PDAF (Priority Development Fund) should be decentralized,” Rama explained.

As regards going to DOTC head office, he wished to clarify with Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya on Cebu’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project as to “where is it going?”

“Especially it is the national government which is introducing something new that is sariling atin,” Rama said.

He will be reporting back to City Hall today hoping to bring good news to his constituents.  (FREEMAN)