Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Let towns put up own landfills, they can afford it: Almirante
Cebu Provincial Board (PB) Member Antonio Almirante believes it’s better to preserve the autonomy of each town in disposing of solid waste, rather than group them together.
Almirante, PB chairman of the committee on laws, said the Province can ask each town to make their own sanitary landfill to comply with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
“They can well afford it,” he said during last Monday’s session.
The current thrust of the Capitol is to form clusters of municipalities and cities in the north and south and come up with a common solid waste management plan.
The Province intends to fund the putting up and operation of a common sanitary landfill in the northern and southern areas.
Northern towns
So far, only the northern towns signed an agreement, being the focus of the Capitol because the bulk of Cebu’s wastes reportedly comes from the area. The area has many industries, especially in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu Cities.
Members of the cluster are the towns of Carmen, Liloan, Catmon, Tabuelan, Cordova, Consolacion, Compostela, Borbon, Tuburan, and Sogod, and the component cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu and Danao.
In response to Almirante’s statement, PB Member Victor Maambong, head of the committee on environment and natural resources, said that grouping together is the “popular clamor” of mayors.
This way, said Maambong, efforts to manage Cebu’s wastes will be “sustainable and long term.”
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Glenn Baricuatro, who appeared before the Board, also disclosed that their initial meetings with the mayors show they have other priorities.
“This is not imposed by the Province. We have the consent of local leaders to bond for a well-developed landfill,” said Maambong.
PB Member Jose Ma. Gastardo also expressed concern for other towns that were not included in the current northern cluster.
But Maambong assured that he can air out suggestions as there may also be a plan for the municipalities in Cebu’s western areas. (JPM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 15, 2006 issue)
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