Japan offers technical aid to extend Cebu City landfill's life span

The Japanese government will send experts to
Cebu City to try to extend the lifespan of the Inayawan Sanitary
Landfill and identify a suitable site for a new landfill, in
preparation for the facility’s shutdown.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Asian
Development Bank-Cities Development Initiative for Asia (ADB-CDIA)
also recently approved their additional assistance for the development
of the South Road Properties (SRP).

Cebu City Planning and Development Coordinator Nigel Paul Villarete
said JICA will be looking at how to extend the lifespan of the
Inayawan landfill but only until a new alternative site will be found.

”JICA is funding the SRP. JICA recognizes the landfill is an important
aspect in the success of the SRP, and that’s why they have included
that in their plan,” said Villarete.

Villarete also said JICA will be formulating a 10-year solid waste
management plan for the 320-hectare property which, he said, is a
requirement of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority.

JICA will also conduct a study on the possible uses and development
options for the 60-hectare Pond A and the strengthening of the SRP
management office.

For ADB-CDIA, Villarete said it will provide technical studies on the
mass transportation system at SRP, particularly the Bus Rapid Transit
(BRT) line toward the property as well as its internal transport
system.

For the study, Villarete said Integrated Transport Planning (ITP)
Director Colin Brader will be the consultant of ADB-CDIA.

ITP is a specialist transport planning consultancy that focuses on the
delivery of an integrated sustainable transport. It was appointed by
the World Bank to identify and prepare a public transport concept plan
for the city.

Also, ADBP-CDIA will conduct a pre-feasibility study on the district
cooling system for the buildings and other utilities within the SRP,
as well as open spaces and parks, which were proposed by former Mayor
now Rep. Tomas Osmena (Cebu City, South District).

Instead of using electricity for air-conditioning units, the district
cooling system will use biomass materials, such as coconut shells and
rice husks, to produce steam that will then heat lithium bromide to
capture moisture.

ADB-CDIA will also conduct studies for the development of the mainland
coastal area at SRP which, Villarete said, will integrate the plan of
Mayor Michael Rama to have a boulevard in the coastal area.

ADB-CDIA will also develop communication, information and education
materials for the SRP. Villarete said the studies will start next
month.

Posted in: Cebu City Landfills life span