Tuesday, September 08, 2008 Suit vs dumpsite barricaders mulled
A SUIT may be filed against the people who continue to bar entry to the Irisan dumpsite, if they do not voluntarily leave the place and open the gates to the site.
Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said Baguio City has been tolerant of the acts of some residents living near the dumpsite, but he could not allow anymore its closure.
The site, which was barricaded on July 14, paralyzed the collection system of Baguio. Until now, the city's wastes are transported to Tarlac as the site remains closed.
The city is using portion of the site as transfer station.
"Our patience has run out. Enough is enough," the mayor declared.
It was learned that the dumpsite's closure resulted in the stoppage of the city's composting plant.
The closure also affected the ongoing construction of a retaining wall intended prevent the collapse of the waste. The retaining wall was supposed to extend the use of the dumpsite, until the city is able to operate a sanitary landfill.
The mayor meanwhile reiterated that plans to privatize collection remains in the drawing board. No formal invitation has been offered but Bautista said in case a firm offers to handle waste collection, he will ask the City Council to prepare a terms-of-reference for the purpose.
In a related development, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, in two proposed resolutions, urged a partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) for organic fertilizer conversion. She also asked the Solid Waste Board to prepare an amended three-year action plan.
Tabanda said vegetable waste might be converted to organic fertilizer through the DA's Organikong Pagsasaka Program. The program promotes sustainable agriculture through use of non-chemical inputs for planting crops.
Vegetable waste from the market may be used for this, said Tabanda. (RO/With Julie Fianza)
