THE Inayawan landfill in Cebu City should be closed down for posing a health risk to residents, the regional Department of Health (DOH) said in its inspection report.
The report forwarded by DOH Regional Director Jaime Bernadas to Councilor Joel Garganera cited the lack of sanitary requirements, environmental, health, and community safety issues as the reasons for its recommendation.
“The disposal area is not anymore suitable as a sanitary landfill even if rehabilitated considering its location within the city, the number of residents and the increasing population of the city, the neighboring cities and towns, the expected increase in the number of commercial centers, transportation and tourists concerns,” the DOH said in its report.
DOH personnel conducted an inspection of the landfill last September 5 upon Garganera’s request. The councilor had been pushing for its closure.
DOH said the residents, commercial centers, shanties and scavengers near the dump site are at high risk of acquiring different types of illnesses due to the pollution from the facility which was supposed to be closed since 2005.
They also recommended that the city should relocate a new landfill to a suitable site.
Councilor Garganera, who heads the city council’s committee on environment, gave reporters a copy of the DOH’s inspection report on Monday morning.