Sardines-for-trash’s expansion opposed

Cebu City Association of Barangay Councils President Philip Zafra has expressed his opposition to the planned expansion of the City Government’s “Basura Mo, Sardinas Ko” program.

Zafra, who is also the village chief of Tisa, voiced out his opposition on the matter in a Facebook post dated Oct. 21.

Zafra, in a phone interview yesterday, told SunStar Cebu that he was told by a “reliable source” that the program will soon be implemented in Tisa.

“But we still need to know the progress report from the pilot Barangays of Lahug and Cogon Pardo. The project is also being implemented only in two of the barangays’ sitios. Feedback from those barangays concerned revealed that it’s not effective,” he said.

“I hope that the City will prioritize instead the implementation of the long-delayed drainage project on Emerald St. It’s urgent,” he added.

Since last March, City Hall has been distributing P5 million worth of canned sardines to households in Barangays Cogon Pardo and Lahug in exchange for their garbage.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña earlier said that the City will expand the program in “hot spots”, which will include the upland portion of Barangay Quiot, and areas in Barangays Tinago and Tejero that are near the river.

These places are where the barangays and the City, through the Department of Public Services, are having a hard time collecting the garbage.

Zafra also raised concerns on whether the City can afford the expansion of the program.

Sought for comment, Osmeña said the program could work in some areas, and it could also be ineffective in others.

But for now, the mayor said that the City is still identifying hot spots areas for the program.

“We will discontinue where it doesn’t work. I don’t mind skipping Tisa for now. He (Zafra) is entitled to his own opinion,” Osmeña said. /