Scavengers search for anything that can be sold inside the private transfer station in Inayawan in this January 25, 2017 file photo.
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor Eduardo Rama, Jr., the City Council’s chairperson for the committee on public services, said that the city needs more transfer stations to address its mounting problem on garbage collection.
Rama said in a phone conference that he has been long pushing for more transfer stations in the city because having only one transfer station at Barangay Inayawan would cost more for barangays in the northern and central portions of the city.
Yet the proposal, he said, fell on deaf ears over the past administrations including a former mayor, now Vice Mayor Michael Rama, former mayor Tomas Osmeña, and now on-leave Mayor Edgardo Labella.
Now, with the issue that the private landfill in Barangay Binaliw refuses to accept trash from the city unless it comes from the Inayawan transfer station, the need for said stations has resurfaced.
READ: Rama says urgent solution needed for trash problems in Barangay Inayawan
“Dugay na kaayo na nato gisuggest sauna pa pero wala gihapoy nahitabo. Wala ta nagkuwang sa pagsuggest pero naa na sa executive kung unsaon gyod nila,” said Rama in a phone conference.
For Rama, there should be one transfer station in the South District, in the North District, and the central portions of the city.
This way the garbage trucks do not need to travel far from the barangays they collect the garbage from and this will not cost much on gas and maintenance.
Rama said he is aware that the transfer station in Barangay Inayawan has caused problems for trucks traveling from barangays farther away from this particular barangay. Trucks reportedly broke down when collecting garbage due to overuse.
The councilor hopes the city’s Executive Department will finally see the necessity for additional transfer stations in the city now that Inayawan can no longer carry the volume of trash in the entire city.
He said he will discuss the options with the Department of Public Services (DPS) as well so that this may be considered in future budget proposals.
Rama said the problem with the city’s garbage has been perennial and it’s high time the city government address this. /rcg