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Dumpsite closes in January 2007

City officials assure Irisan residents

BAGUIO CITY (June 1) — The Irisan dumpsite would be closed down in January 2007, if the controlled dump facility (CDF) conversion timetable is followed.

Engineer Nazita Bañez, head of the Solid Waste Management Division of the City Environment and Parks Management Office, assured Irisan residents during a consultation with city officials last June 1. She said that according to the timetable set by the technical working group for the CDF implementation, the bidding process will be four months and another four months will be required for the actual conversion work.

The city council recently approved P18.7 million budget for the conversion.

Bañez explained that 75% of the original dumpsite will be converted into a landfill and the remaining 25% will be used as a temporary dumpsite. She said the landfill will be vegetated and could be put to public use and/or housing.

She further said the landfill might also be a source of water. She explained that through a series of treatments, garbage leacheate can be converted into safe potable water.

At present, the local government is in the process of finalizing the Terms of Reference (TOR). This will include solutions for alternative livelihood program for the scavengers that could be displaced by the project.

Affected residents are thankful and expressed support to the conversion project.

Irisan residents earlier picketed City Hall calling for the closure of the dumpsite due to environmental and health considerations.

Cris Anayasan, a resident of San Carlos Heights, said that the disgusting odor from the pile of garbage is all over the barangay. “It’s very repulsive, especially after the rain where the stench evaporates. It’s like inhaling fumes from dozens of dead rats,” he stressed in Ilocano.

However, Mayor Braulio Yaranon said there is an effort to reduce the foul odor. He said the dumpsite receives a daily treatment of carpet spraying where inorganic chemicals are used to kill the bacteria. The continuous odor comes from the newly dumped wastes, he added.

Meanwhile, La Trinidad also launched its own waste management program. La Trinidad Mayor Nestor Fongwan, in a forum, introduced a new dumpsite and a waste management campaign dubbed as “Segregate, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Compost” or the “S+3R+C” campaign, which would help the new dumpsite function more efficiently.

Fongwan stressed that they will implement a recycling program and suggested to all residents to create their own compost pit. A buying center for recyclables is already established at the public market.

La Trinidad will also have its new controlled dumpsite facility. Its Buyagan Dump Facility will be closed on June 30 to pave way for the opening of the new Alno Dump Facility on July 1.

Fongwan said the new dumpsite also have a systematic segregation processing of wastes. He added that they are also planning to provide all barangays with bioreactors to promote composting.

The reforms on the waste management system of both areas are in line with the provisions of Republic Act 9003 or the National Waste Management Act, which states that local government units should convert open dumpsites into CDFs by February 2006. It also stipulated that LGUs should adapt effective waste management geared to eliminate the use of dumpsites by 2007.

Both Yaranon and Fongwan stressed that garbage disposal solutions will be useless unless the residents cooperate. # Angela Malicdem for NORDIS and Aileen P. Refuerzo/PIO

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