Rama: Reusing landfill a ‘stupid’ alternative

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has shot down the suggestion of reopening the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill, calling it a “stupid” idea.

His nephew, former city councilor Eduardo “Edu” Rama, head of the city’s “Gubat sa Basura” (War on Garbage) program, earlier said reusing the Inayawan dumpsite is an option following the City Council’s deferment of the P50 million additional funding for garbage service fee or tipping fee payments.

“I don’t agree with that… stupid na,” the mayor said when told of the plan.

The mayor said he will assess the city’s garbage predicament “to see things in their proper perspectives.”

He assured the continued collection of garbage despite the non-passage of additional budget for garbage fees, saying he would appeal to the private hauler and the owner of the private landfill in Consolacion town to still accommodate Cebu City’s garbage despite the lack of payment.

“The show must go on,” Rama said in a phone interview with City Hall reporters yesterday. The mayor is in Manila attending an official function.

“We can’t just stop delivering public service. We will always make a way because this is public service,” he added.

Rama is optimistic that the service providers would consider their request since the city government has been “patronizing” them for quite some time now.

“The world has not yet ended and we could still be aided in this problem,” he said.

The city’s fund for garbage fee is almost depleted already, with only P2.6 million left from the P51 million appropriated this year. The amount is expected to last for at least a week only.

Rama, though, said he understood the reason why the City Council deferred approving the budget, which is to protect public funds. But, he said it such motivation should not also lead to “obstruction” of the city’s budgets and projects.

“Are they willing to help or not? It is an important matter that needs to be resolved. Are they going to obstruct what ought to be done in going towards making the garbage collection better than what it used to be? Or they would like city dirty?” he said.

“If the council wants to protect the fund then I am not going against it,” he, however, added.

In an executive session last Monday, the council decided to again defer approval of the supplemental budget for the payment of garbage fees.

Members first wanted the submission of a revised annual investment plan and certification on availability of sources of funds under the local disaster fund.

The AIP, City Councilor Margarita Osmeña earlier said, should be submitted and approved first by the City Development Council before the City Council would proceed with the passage of the proposed appropriations ordinance.