VSMMC buying equipment in answer to trash problem

CEBU, Philippines - Following their having to bear with the stench of uncollected garbage, officials of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center have announced that they are in the process of procuring non-burn microwave shredder.

The device, said Housekeeping Section chief Ma. Victoria Villarojo yesterday, will help the hospital so that it would no longer be completely dependent on the city Department Public Services in the disposal of their general wastes.

Hospital wastes, on the other hand, are not a concern of the hospital as these are regularly collected by its private contractor, Pollution Abatement Systems Specialists Incorporated (PASSI).

Villarojo said they also learned following what happened that segregation is everybody’s responsibility, not just of the hospital utility workers.

“Since this problem has been exposed, I would like to emphasize that segregation must be done by patients, significant others (watchers), hospital employees and even doctors and nurses,” she said.

Villarojo also reported that after what happened, when uncollected trash piled up and repeated pleas with the DPS went unanswered, disposal of their garbage has already normalized.

Yesterday, she showed members of the local media improvement at the storage area after DPS picked up the accumulated general wastes after.

DPS trucks have already started collecting their garbage at the hospital. As of Wednesday night, a total of 11 truckloads of general wastes have so far been brought out.

“Nag-overtime intawn among mga personnel kay gabii man tig anhi to collect ang truck,” Villarojo said.

Cebu City Administrator Lucelle Mercado has also personally inspected the garbage storage area, while DPS Chief Rolando Ardosa met with VSMMC Director Gerardo Aquino to discuss the hospital’s solid waste management woes.

Villarojo admitted that non-collection of their general waste was due to a City Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Team citation for violation of the city’s “No Segregation, No Collection” ordinance.

The hospital was fined P500 for this violation, which was accordingly settled yesterday afternoon. (FREEMAN)