Mayor Rama Shoots Down Proposal to Reopen City’s Landfill

(PNA) — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has shot down the suggestion to reopen the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill, which was “ultimately” closed in January.

“I don’t agree with that,” Rama said, citing that the landfill has exceeded its capacity.

He said he will assess the city’s garbage predicament “to see things in their proper perspectives.”

Former city councilor Eduardo “Edu” Rama, the mayor’s nephew and head of the city’s “Gubat sa Basura” (War on Garbage) program, earlier said reusing the Inayawan dumpsite is an option after the City Council deferred the approval of the P50-million additional funding for garbage service fee or tipping fee.

Mayor Rama assured the continued collection of garbage despite the non-passage of additional budget for garbage fees.

He said he would appeal to the private hauler and the owner of the private landfill in Consolacion town in northern Cebu to still accommodate the city’s garbage despite the lack of payment.

“We can’t just stop delivering public service. We will always make a way because this is public service,” he added.

Rama said he is optimistic the service providers would consider their request since the city government has been “patronizing” them for quite some time now.

“The world has not yet ended and we could still be aided in this problem,” he said.

Of the city’s P51-million budget for garbage fee this year, only P2.6 million is left, which is expected to last for at least a week only. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS