THE ENVIRONMENTAL EcoWaste Coalition has strongly urged Cebu Mayor Michael Rama to not sign a joint venture agreement with a Chinese incinerator company that will tie the city to a long-term garbage contract involving a highly problematic solid waste management system.
The group issued the warning after the Cebu City
Council approved the unsolicited proposal of New Sky Energy (Philippines)
during its March 9 session. The proposal was allegedly approved by the council
despite lack of proper multi-stakeholder’s consultations and public bidding
processes.
The incinerator company is a subsidiary of a
Chinese incinerator company News Sky Environment & Tech. Co. Ltd.
“The hasty approval by the Cebu City Council of the
incinerator proposal is very unfortunate. There is clear scientific evidence
that WTE facilities produce and release harmful toxins that cause serious
respiratory diseases. Moreover, the city will be locked into a highly onerous
contract for many years. These are serious concerns and the City Government
should reconsider its approval of this dangerous agreement,” said Atty. Lievj
Alimangohan, of EcoWaste Coalition.
In the proposal submitted by New Sky Energy to the
City Council, the incinerator company said it will put a waste-to-energy
garbage incinerator facility with the local government providing a 40-year
secured franchise to the company and minimum guaranteed volume of 800 tons of
garbage per day at an expensive rate of P1,300 pesos per ton.
“We urge Mayor Rama to reconsider this incinerator proposal. The City should not jump at this quick-fix solution that in the end will be a burden to the city and will threaten the people’s health, welfare, and sources of livelihood. There are already more ecological and people-centered solutions on solid waste management and we hope these should be considered first and foremost by our local leaders,” said Alimangohan. (Cebu Examiner)
