Tomas can’t assure success of trash rule implementation

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña admitted that there is no assurance that the implementation of “No Segregation, No Collection” policy will be successful this time.

What is important is the fact that the city tried to find a way to improve its garbage collection scheme.

“We cannot assure anything. We cannot assure anything in this life…As long as you’re here in earth, you cannot see perfection,” Osmeña told reporters yesterday.

Osmeña agrees with Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office head Nida Cabrera that the city can save on the garbage hauling cost with the implementation of the policy.

However, he cannot say yet how much savings will be realized.

This is not the first time for the city government to implement this policy. In 2011, the city already started the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy but it was not enforced effectively. In 2014, the implementation was stopped.

Opposition Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said it is good that the present administration is adopting a policy implemented during the term of former mayor Michael Rama.

“It’s good that the present administration realizes that the policy of former mayor Mike Rama is very effective policy in solving the garbage problem of the city,” she said.

The “No Segregation, No Collection” policy will be implemented next month, not this month, as announced earlier by Cabrera. This is because several urban barangays have requested to orient the residents first.

To recall, since the controversial landfill was shut down in December 2016, the city tapped a service provider to haul trash to a private landfill in Consolacion.

Last year, the city spent P312.5 million for its hauling operations.

This year, the City Council set aside P300 million.

But Cabrera earlier said she is hopeful that the budget will not be used up.

Councilor Sisinio Andales told The FREEMAN that once the policy will be implemented, the public will be educated on how to dispose of their trash properly.

“With the present administration and with political will to implement it, it will be a welcome development for our garbage collection…At least it will lessen the volume of garbage that we haul to the landfill. But discipline is important too,” he said.

Cabrera said 20 percent to 30 percent tons of the 600 tons of trash that the city generates will be reduced once the policy is implemented.

Councilor Jose Daluz III is in favor of the implementation of the policy. However, for it to be successful this time, the policy should be implemented first in certain areas.

The Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) has started educating the residents of Carreta, San Roque, Tejero, and Kalunasan about the policy.

The public will be required to classify their trash as biodegradable, nonbiodegradable, residual, and special waste.

Barangay Environmental Officers are going to issue citation tickets for those who fail to observe the policy.

First-time offenders will be fined P500; second-time offenders will be fined P1,000; and third-time offenders will be fined P3,000. In all three levels, violators will be made to do community service.