Cebu City council: Landfill must go

CEBU CITY — The city council has passed a resolution urging Mayor Tomas Osmeña to close down the 15-hectare Inayawan landfill for various violations.

Voting 11-6, the council decided to stop hauling garbage to the facility.

Six councilors allied with Osmeña tried to stop the passage of the resolution.

Councilor Joel Garganera said in a privilege speech the continued operation of the landfill has committed 13 violations.

“Thirteen violations! If this does not alarm you, let us go through these violations one by one as stated in the letter from the DENR-7 Regional Director William Cuñado to Mayor Tomas Osmeña,” Garganera said.

The violations include the failure to implement strict measures on disposal of hazardous or hospital waste and failure to cover fresh garbage with soil.

"It is explicit that the operation of the dumpsite is not only inefficient nor ineffective, but also unlawful. There is a greater need to rehabilitate the dumpsite than the need to have it reopened,” Garganera said.

Councilors opposed to the resolution said it would only complicate the garbage problem of the city if the landfill is closed.

The city collects an average of 500 tons of trash every day.

Garganera said it is the job of the executive department to look for an alternative site.