CEBU, Philippines — A U.S,-based company has proposed a world-class Material Recovery Facility (MRF) and transfer stations as a safe solution to the garbage problem in Cebu City.
The City Council, on the other hand, gave the nod for the city government to have a joint venture agreement with a private entity for a Waste-to-Energy project amidst opposition of some councilors and environmental groups.
The U.S.-based company, identified by the city’s PIO as Cal Greens Holding Corporation Waste Management Park, is offering a world-class MRF facility.
The company’s representative, Allan Ogoc, assured during its meeting with Mayor Michael Rama that the MRF has a lesser smell than landfills with the way they are processing the wastes collected.
“Ang nakanindot lang ani after collection i-process man gud diretso,” Ogoc was quoted as saying.
More to it, Ogoc also said that they are not including a Waste-to-Energy facility on it, as this would create another problem than solutions.
“Wa tay waste-to-energy kay (it) is creating another problem,” said Ogoc.
Ogoc said, more than anything, the biggest investment to this project is the people’s education on solid waste and the collection.
“One of pinakadako nga investment ana mayor is ang education sa mga tawo. We have to educate thru media, social media. Mao ni atong buhaton, but ang challenge nato ang collection,” said Ogoc.
Ogoc also showed the concept of an Organic Waste Treatment Anaerobic Digestive System” which may also be useful especially to the huge amount of waste from public markets especially that of Carbon Public Market.
Ogoc also said the locals can also earn from this as they buy recyclable materials.
Cal Greens needs at least 20 hectares for this MRF with Barangay Guba on top of their main consideration.
Rama has expressed interest in it and advised the company representatives to present a study in line with this.
Under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act No. 9003), every barangay or cluster of barangays is supposed to establish an MRF, which Cebu City does not have.
In a related development, the City Council has approved the resolution authorizing Rama to sign the Joint Venture Agreement with New Sky Energy Philippines Incorporated for the construction and operation of a Waste-to-Energy facility.
The said facility can process 800 tons of solid waste daily and recover resources previously disposed of and transform the same into usual materials and energy.
The approval of the resolution of Councilor Raymond Garcia, however, took some hours of discussion, but just like some issues in the past, the majority bloc got it in its favor.
Councilor Joel Garganera, chairman on the committee on environment said, “WTE is the way to go” to the dismay of some environmentalists and even some opposition councilors.
Garganera defended it by saying even the top 10 most environmental-friendly countries in the world are using WTE.
Councilor Alvin Dizon, for one, was against it.
“If the energy generated is by burning garbage, unsaon man na pagka renewable energy kung magsunog tag basura? Therefore, WTE is not a solution to address the City’s power generation and waste management system,” said Dizon.
Councilor Nestor Archival, on the other hand, was asking legal opinion regarding the JVA.
Archival also said that it may turn out to be more costly when transporting all the garbage to a still unknown location of the WTE even as the city will not spend any amount from building the WTE.
The likes of Councilor Raymond Garcia and Garganera stressed that the JVA is advantageous to the city, but most opposition councilors said otherwise.
Even the timing of the approval of the JVA has been questioned as it is already nearing the election period while some documents needed for the project are yet to be produced. —Sanden Anadia, KQD (FREEMAN)