Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña holds up rehabilitation plans for the landfill (CDN PHOTO/SANTINO BUNACHITA).
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña issued statement after Environment Secretary Gina Lopez suggested to have the Inayawan Landfill closed.
“I cannot disobey the law. But the issue is pending in court. I don’t think she can close it without permission from court,” Osmeña said.
Secretary Lopez had gone to the Inayawan Landfill to do an ocular inspection Thursday afternoon with Mayor Osmeña.
After finding out that the landfill was located on a reclaimed area and is near the sea, Lopez commented that she was “not in favor of dumping toxic waste near the sea or any body of water because it poses environmental hazards.”
Another hearing at the Court of Appeals for the granting of a Temporary Environmental Protection Order (TEPO) against the operation of the Inayawan landfill is scheduled on Monday.