Enzyme purchase from Asap funds

CEBU City Hall’s executive department wants to purchase P1.9 million worth of enzymes which is believed to minimize the foul odor coming from the Inayawan landfill using funds from the Accelerated Social Amelioration Program (Asap), which is under the mayor’s office.

The Asap board approved a resolution allowing the use of its funds for the purchase of multipurpose microbial inoculant, which was earlier tested by the city in the landfill.

The board used as basis Article VI of the tax ordinance creating the Asap which states that “the ASAP Board may from time to time, introduce new programs of amelioration as the exigency of the time demands.”

The City Treasurer’s Office (CTO) said that as of July 31, the city still has P27.8 million in its social amelioration tax trust fund which is available for use.

The Asap board resolution was approved by Mayor Tomas Osmeña and signed by five members including councilors Margarita Osmeña, Nendell Hanz Abella, Claro Benatiro of the private sector, Jacob Koshy, a nongovernment organization representative and Rey Calooy from a people’s organization.

City Administrator Jovy Morellos earlier said that using the Asap fund won’t need further approval from the City Council.

But Councilor Jose Daluz III reacted to the executive department’s decision to use the Asap funds, saying that using it to buy enzymes for the landfill cannot be justified.

“It cannot be. It’s specific for social services. That’s stretching it too much,” Daluz told reporters.

Daluz, who was the one who authored the ordinance creating the Asap board, said that while the board may come up with new programs where the Asap fund can be used for, the purchase of the enzymes hardly falls into qualified programs.

He explained that the social amelioration tax being collected by the city from business establishments like casinos, beer houses and so-called “sin” establishments should be used for better programs that are focused on women and children, like halfway houses and feeding programs, among others.

Daluz, who heads the council’s committee on social services, said he wasn’t even aware that the Asap board has already convened. He said he automatically becomes part of the board being the head of the committee.

“I will write a letter to them that it’s wrong. If they won’t follow, we will look for another venue. We need to call their attention that it shouldn’t be used. It’s wrong,” he said.

With Osmeña’s continued insistence on using the Inayawan landfill despite recommendations from agencies for its closure, city hall has been looking for ways to mitigate the smell coming from the landfill, which has already earned several complaints from business establishments, nearby residents and students.