Monday, October 30, 2006 Tuba may sue city over unresolved waste mess By Jane Cadalig
ASIDE from the administrative case filed by Tuba residents affected by the garbage coming from the Irisan dumpsite in Baguio, the Municipal Government may file additional civil and criminal charges against the city if no immediate moves are done to address the problem.
Tuba Councilor Blas Dalus said they would be forced to file civil and criminal cases against the City Government of Baguio for its failure to solve the garbage overflow and seepage posing health hazards to Tuba constituents, particularly those from Barangay Tadiangan.
Dalus said the garbage problem started in the early 1990s but despite several dialogues held between Tuba and Baguio officials, the concern remains unresolved until now as the establishment of a retaining wall failed to prevent the garbage from flowing down to the town.
"We are not satisfied with the erection pf the retaining wall since this has not prevented garbage from reaching Tuba. We already joined the complaint of Tadiangan residents and we might as well file civil and criminal charges against the city if this is not yet solved," he said.
Recently, residents of three barangays hit the city for the garbage that overflowed from the retaining wall of the Irisan dumpsite.
Tuba officials here enjoined Barangay Tadiangan to file complaints before the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Vice Mayor Florencio Bentrez said the City Government of Baguio should have the will to really address the concern of the affected residents. "If only the city has humane concern over our constituents and the will to implement immediate measures, then we would not consider the filing of a suit as the only remedy to awaken them," he said.
Tuba Mayor Jose Baluda, meanwhile, said they would await first the decision of the DENR on the case, not discounting however the filing of damage suit against the city as one of the options to "let them (City Government) act on the problem."
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