Inayawan landfill declared under ‘state of preparedness’

Mitigating measures eyed to prevent fires, trash slides

INSTEAD of a state of calamity, a state of preparedness was declared at the Inayawan sanitary landfill yesterday.

With this declaration, the Cebu city government moves closer to tapping  calamity funds for mitigating measures to prevent fires and trash slides at the 15-hectare landfill.

However, interventions and fund releases will still need approval by the City Council, said Councilor Dave Tumulak.

Tumulak, who heads the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CCDRRMC), said calamity funds could be readily tapped if a state of calamity had been declared.

“If it’s a (state of) calamity, we can easily use our quick response fund as soon as possible. If it’s a state of preparedness, we have to get it  from 70 percent of the total budget. But it takes time and it has to undergo several processes,” Tumulak said.

He pushed for the declaration of the entire area under a state of calamity after fire broke out in the mountains of trash last month.

Last month  the city government ordered about 80 families living near the dump site to move out supposedly for their own safety.

The city government closed the landfill in mid-January this year. There are plans to fence the area while the city government is evaluating an unsolicited proposal from a Korean company and its Manila-based partner to clean up the property and prepare this for commercial development.

The landfill, located near the South Road Properties, is envisioned to become a prime commercial property that could attract developers eyeing to undertake mixed-use projects.

During the city council’s regular session yesterday, Councilor Gerardo Carillo pushed for the declaration of a state of calamity at the landfill. He cited a resolution passed by the disaster council that warned of a trash slide.

Councilor Nida Cabrera, who heads the committee on environment, pointed out that no interventions, like layering and benching, have been made in the area.

“Our mitigation efforts should also include on how to manage the site now that it is being closed. We have to comply with the environmental compliance certificate by the Environmental Management Bureau,” she said.

Tumulak said they will include these in their plans.

“We have to consolidate all plans so we can conduct mitigating efforts. We will call a meeting with DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) as to their recommendation,” he said.

Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr., for his part, pushed for a situationer and damage assessment of the landfill. He also wanted to know the prerequisites for the declaration of a state of calamity.

“When can we declare a state of calamity? I understand there was a small fire. I don’t think that the amount of fire there is enough to declare the city as state of calamity,” he said.

Councilor Margot Osmena, who heads the committee on budget and finance, meanwhile asked where the city will get the funds since the city’s trust fund account for calamity funds only has P8.7 million.