Typhoon prompted collection of garbage

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Thanks to typhoon Santi, the city government decided to haul the four-week old piles of more than 22,000 tons of stinking uncollected garbage. The decision only came after the forecasted arrival of another typhoon by the Philippine Athmosperic, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA).

City mayor Reinaldo Bautista said that learning from the city’s experience from typhoons “Ondoy” and “Pepeng”, Baguio is prepared for the new typhoon “Santi”. Part of the said preparation is the collection of garbage to prevent clogging of the city’s waterways. During the typhhon “Pepeng”, the city camp lagoon was submerged in some three-story deep water for several days. Garbage clogging the natural drainage in the area was one of the said causes of the flood.

More than three weeks ago, some Barangay officials were told to temporarily stop bringing out their garbage by the City Environment and Parks Office (CEPMO). No assured date of when garbage collection was to resume was announced by the CEPMO.

The members of the city council during their regular session discussed the proposed additional P36 million hauling cost until the year ends. However, the city council was reluctant to release such fund as the city had already spent more than P33 million for garbage hauling.

Some of the councilors are pursuing the realization of the city’s Engineered Sanitary Landfill (ESL) in Sto. Thomas in Tuba and Itogon, Benguet as well as the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) as solution to Baguio’s garbage crisis. As of now, the city’s garbage is being hauled to an ESL in Capas, Tarlac since the 2.5 hectare Irisan dumpsite was closed in accordance with law.

Meanwhile, the city health officer Dr. Florence Reyes spoke of diseases that may be “indirectly” caused by the uncollected garbage. Health problems like bronchitis, pneumonia, systemic viral infections and asthma among others topped the list of disease occurrence in the city.

Reyes added that dermatitis and asthma prove the presence of allergens in the city’s environment aggrevated by the garbage. For this, Reyes appealed the garbage collection should be done daily to avoid the worst.

Bautista expressed option of exercising his executive powers taking advantage of Baguio’s still declared on a calamity state in bid to solve the issue. He said he will use his powers in collecting the city’s waste.

Bautista said as to where will the city dump its trash is not an issue, he hinted on the possibility of utilizing the Irisan dumpsite again.

Bautista said the city government will reclaim the 7.5 hectare dumpsite from “informal settlers” as part of the city’s program on waste management. He said the city had only used 2.5 hectares of the total land area of the dumpsite. Bautista added that the area can be converted to a “controlled garbage facility” that can hold 200 tons of garbage generated daily.

Bautista said those who built structures in the area violated the city’s zoning ordinances as well as the building code. He said they have no building permits from the city government. Bautista said the city had already notified the residents to vacate the site so that it can be used for the city’s waste management program.# nordis.net