Monday, October 06, 2008 ‘Most modern landfill’ to rise in Kalunasan
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña yesterday assured Kalunasan residents the City Government will build the “most modern sanitary landfill in the world” in their barangay, easing concerns about water contamination.
But he said the City will build the facility only when “90 percent” of the residents will agree to it.
In the meantime, he said, he will build a road leading to the site in the barangay’s boundary with neighboring Barangay Busay so people can visit the place and judge for themselves the viability of the proposal.
The mayor also asked the residents to name what they want in exchange of their acceptance of the landfill, which he said will serve as the main garbage dump. The one in Inayawan will serve as “back-up.”
“If you want it we will give you the best reward. (It is like) if I want to buy your house, I will pay you the price. What is your price?” he said.
Barangay Captain Edelito Mabano said their main concern is the effect of the landfill on the environment, particularly on the air and water.
He said that based on feedbacks he received, many residents do not like the landfill to be in their barangay because of health concerns.
But he trusted the mayor’s word that the landfill will be built only if most of the people will agree to it.
The mayor was one of the guest city officials who attended yesterday’s general assembly at the Oppra covered court.
“I am not going to make a final decision until 90 percent of you will agree… It will be the most modern in the world, so walay baho (there will be no smell),” he told the Kalunasan residents and officials.
He said the garbage trucks will be traversing through the Guadalupe River on its way to the site, and the landfill will be covered except for the area where the trucks dump the trash.
If it rains and the river overflows, the garbage trucks will deliver the trash to the Inayawan landfill.
He admitted that while it is possible that waste could leak out of the landfill, it will immediately proceed to the river and not to the water system that Kalunasan residents are protecting.
The mayor also enticed the residents with livelihood, saying the city will be needing aggregates that could be collected from the river.
The road, on the other hand, will lead to an area where mangoes bloom, providing easier access.
Yesterday, he pledged to give P3 million for the barangays priority projects.
He asked the residents to think what they could also get if they agree to host the landfill.
“You have to make a deal with the mayor. Business is business, you want something, I want something,” he said. (RHM)
