CESET urged: Orient brgy officials on role to enforce environment laws

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council has requested the City Environmental Sanitation Enforcement Team to conduct an orientation on the roles of barangay officials and Barangay Environmental Officers in the implementation of environmental laws.

This, after several barangay officials were confused why they were issued a citation ticket by CESET officer for non-segregation of garbage.

CESET head Grace Luardo, and barangay officials from Labangon, Duljo-Fatima, Pardo, Basak San Nicolas, Guadalupe, and Talamban were invited to attend the public hearing yesterday to brief the city council about the concerns of the barangay officials.

Councilman Ian Anthony Osmeña of Labangon said that he was issued a citation ticket for improper segregation of waste when in fact it is the job of the environmental officers to segregate the garbage. He alleged that the environmental officers have been “uncooperative” on the matter.

“Naa man gani niingon nga environmental officer nga ‘nganong motuo man mi sa barangay nga ang syudad man ang nagsweldo namo,” he said.

Osmeña asked why the citation ticket was directly issued to him when CESET officer could have coordinated with the BEO. He said that it was only last week since the BEOs in their barangay were able to attend the meetings, adding that prior to it, BEOs were not doing their job but are still paid by the city government.

Elgie Alicaya of Barangay Duljo-Fatima said she was shocked and frightened after she was issued with a citation ticket.

“Gi-isyuhan ko og citation without my knowing, nahadlok ko kay karon pako kasuway nga kasohan ko,” she said.

Luardo clarified that when someone is being issued with citation ticket, it does not mean that the offender is already charged for committing a certain violation.

“Ang kanang citation ticket is wakeup call rana namo nga para magkaistorya mi sa among gi-isyuhan regarding sa violation,” she said.

She said that enforcing and implementing the environmental laws has never been an easy job for them. “Daghan na gani kaayong mga barangay officials nga naka-estorya nako nga grabe kasuko sa amoang opisina, pero na-estoryaan ug nasulbad ra gyod namo,” Luardo said.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella advised Luardo to reach out to the barangay officials and hold a dialogue with them. City Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. said that the BEOs should possess utmost courtesy to barangay officials.— (FREEMAN)