Mayor to sign deal for US$300,000 project

BACOLOD Mayor Evelio Leonardia will sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Quezon City today, Thursday, allowing the City of Bacolod to participate in Activity 2.3 of the GEF-World Bank Integrated Organic Pollutants Management Projects (IPOPs).

Bacolod City has been assessed and selected by the IPOPs as one of the six local government units that will be provided with technical and financial assistance to demonstrate better alternatives to reduce the release of dioxins and furans caused by burning of wastes in dumpsites.

Leonardia said he will sign the MOA with Environment Secretary Ramon Paje at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Hall in Quezon City, together with the mayors of other selected cities like Iloilo, General Santos, Cabanatuan, Butuan, and Cagayan de Oro.

He said Bacolod will be given a grant of $300,000 (P12.5 million) for the closure of its old dumpsite.

Leonardia said that representatives of the World Bank went around the Philippines to look for local government units that they think can pursue their goals.

"And this is to the credit of Bacolod that we were chosen because, if they saw that Bacolod is not capable, they will not put their $300,000 here," he said.

Leonardia recalled that the people who have helped them along the way were Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of the City Council committee on environment, and former councilor Greg Gasataya, who was the former chair of the committee, as well as Councilor Mona Dia Jardin, president of the Association of Barangay Captains in Bacolod, and people from the City Engineer's Office and Environment Office.

He said the city will provide a counterpart and that it is essentially a 50-50 proposition. (CNC)