Tuesday, November 27, 2007 Environmentalists disgusted with mayor By Gil Alfredo B. Severino
GREEN Renewable Independent Power Producer, Inc. and Greenpeace International(GRIPP-Greenpeace) campaigner Athena Ronquillo expressed frustration Monday over Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia's alleged inaction as a party to a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) intended to solve the garbage problem in Bacolod City.
Ronquillo said aside from the mayor, other city officials should also be aware that they are also part of a concerted effort to clean Bacolod City.
GRIPP-Greenpeace brought to Bacolod City its E-Jeep for a test drive last August.
What was not known to the public is that GRIPP-Greenpeace had requested the City for a "garbage audit," that is to survey the volume of garbage to be converted to biogas.
Ronquillo said: "I am asking Mayor Bing and city officials to demonstrate that they take the project seriously by ensuring the city's counterpart. These include the city's help with waste audit and permitting E- Jeeps to operate."
"It's been very slow and frustrating so far Puerto Princesa and Baguio had been dying to get E-Jeep but we can't (give them any) because of our commitment to Bacolod," she added.
Mayor Leonardia can't be reached for comment as of Monday night.
Ronquillo announced that GRIPP-Greenpeace is now transacting with the Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (MBCCI) to implement its plan to gather garbage in Bacolod for a biogas plant.
MBCCI will also facilitate the land registration of E-Jeep and the eventual display of the vehicles in key areas in Bacolod. GRIPP-Greenpeace and MBCCI will partner with the Cebu-based Phil-Bio in converting Bacolod's garbage to biogas energy source.
MBCCI President Roberto Montelibano also explained that "While Bacolod is being cleaned of garbage, Central Negros Electric Cooperative, Inc. (Ceneco) will benefit from the mega-wattage that Phil-Bio can provide later."
"All together, GRIPP-Greenpeace, Phil-Bio, MBCCI and Ceneco will make Bacolod the most business-friendly city, giving jobs to all downstream industries involved," Montelibano said.
