City to dump slaughter house wastes in Irisan

By ALDWIN QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY — Irisan residents expressed fears of the stench as the city sought to construct a septic-tank waste containment facility at the Irisan dumpsite for the city’s slaughter house waste.

For years to the recent months, residents living near the dumpsite and nearby Tadiangan, Tuba, Benguet barricaded its entrance and demanded the city government to stop dumping garbage in the area. The barricaders told the city that they are fed-up with the stink and they fear that the mountain of garbage might collapse and cause a lot of damage.

This prompted the city to haul out its trash to Capas, Tarlac. On May, the City Council resolved to close the dumpsite saying it is already full. The city decided that the dumpsite will only be used as a station for the garbage awaiting transfer to Tarlac. However, few weeks ago, large volumes of garbage was again being dumped making the residents at the dumpsite area block anew the entrance of the dumpsite.

On September 11, Baguio Police dispersed the barricaders hurting many of them.
Prior to the said construction, City Councilor and Chairman of the Abbatoir (Slaughterhouse) Recycling Isabelo “Popo” Cosalan conducted a public consultaion with Irisan Barangay Offcials and some residents. He told the residents that the city is planning to use 200 to 500 sq. meters at the 1.8 hectare city owned lot.

The said area that was earlier proposed as a relocation site for the slaughter house, was also intended for a socialized housing for City government’s employees.

Cosalan promised the residents that the facility will operate temporarily. According to Cosalan, it shall immediately cease once an Engineered Sanitary Landfill (ESL) will materialize.

Cosalan advised the residents to study the proposal and he asked that a Barangay resolution be submitted to his office. The resolution, Cosalan said, will be used by members of the task force he is heading prior to the construction.

Waste from the slaughter house will include hooves, hair, entrails, grass as well as liquids from the slaughter of animals. In an attempt to allay the fears of the residents of foul smell and health risks, Assistant Head of the City Veterinary Office Dr. Silardo Bestred assured that the facility is enclosed to hinder the stinking out of bad smell. Bestred added that there will be a livelihood oppurtunity for the residents as organic fertlizers will be produce from the composted waste. Farmers from the barangay can sell or utilize the product and can also be an income generating project of the barangay. nordis.net