THE Cebu City Council has deferred the approval of the proposed “bio fence” project in Barangay Taptap, which would allocate P9.1 million to cover a 9.2-hectare lot.
During the regular session on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, Councilor Jerry Guardo, infrastructure committee head, sought the council’s approval for the project.
However, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, along with other members, raised several concerns, prompting the council to table the resolution for further discussion.
An executive session will be held, involving representatives from the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), city architects and City Resource Management and Development Center, to answer several council inquiries.
However, no specific date for the session has been announced yet.
Discussion
Pesquera asked Guardo what a bio fence was and why it would cost the City Government P9.1 million.
Pesquera pointed out that the term “bio fence” might imply something “biodegradable.”
“Sometimes, when we think of a bio fence, we immediately associate it with something biodegradable. So, what type of fence is this? It says ‘cyclone fence’ here. What exactly does cyclone mean? The description should be clearer,” she said in Cebuano.
Guardo said the fence would consist of a concrete bottom half and a barbed wire upper half.
He added that “bio fence” and “cyclone” are engineering terms, which he cannot discuss in detail.
Pesquera noted that while the resolution mentions the bio fence covering one lot, it does not specify the linear meter.
“With the linear meter, we can calculate the unit cost. The area may be 9.2 hectares, but that doesn’t equate to the lot’s length. We need to specify the linear meter,” she said in Cebuano.
She also questioned the inclusion of over P200,000 for “painting” in the program of works and estimates (Powe), assuming the bio fence would consist of plants.
She said if plants were used, painting would not be necessary.
Design
Meanwhile, Councilor Nes-tor Archival inquired about the fence design.
Councilor Franklyn Ong, who took the initiative to search on the internet the meaning of a “bio fence,” told the council that the term refers to “a line of trees or shrubs planted along the boundary of a field or farm to provide protection against cattle.”
Responding to Ong, Councilor Joy Augustus Young said that if a bio fence is what Ong defined, it would be better to resort to a concrete fence, despite incurring additional charges.
Guardo, on the other hand, said the DEPW has already indicated in their proposal the construction of a “perimeter fence” rather than “bio fence.”
Pesquera then told Guardo that the engineering department should revise the Powe before reintroducing the charging of the infrastructure project. (JPS)