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Friday, April 28, 2006
Environment agencies blamed Dauin landfill plan stalls
By Victor L. Camion
THE prospect for a common Metro Dumaguete sanitary landfill looked even dimmer as the Municipal Government of Dauin locked in a word war with the barangay council of Barangay Tunga-Tunga.
The latest setback surfaced during a recent forum of the mayors and council officials of local government units from Siaton to San Jose at Bahura beach in Dauin, 17 kilometers from Dumaguete City.
Except for Mayor Antonio Renacia of Sibulan, present at the forum were the seven mayors of Siaton, Zamboanguita, Dauin, Bacong, Valencia, Dumaguete City, and San Jose, who agreed to form a cluster to benefit from the proposed Dauin landfill site.
Governor George Arnaiz and Representative Herminio Teves of the 3rd district of Negros Oriental likewise attended the same forum.
But they were caught off-guard when they learned that the barangay council of Tunga-Tunga passed last April 17 a resolution opposing the plan to have it host the P15 million per hectare landfill.
The resolution surprised the mayors leading to verbal tussles with the Environment and Natural Resources Management Division (ENRMD) of the province and Dauin Mayor Rodrigo Alanano heatedly arguing his case with the Muncipal Council members led by Vice Mayor Frances Araula.
Alanano had been adamant to build the landfill in Tunga-Tunga.
Mayor Agustin Perdices believed the opposition stemmed from inadequate information and education drives.
"Probably the people just lacks understanding," said Perdices.
Perdices said ENRMD headed by Mercy Teves and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources were responsible for information dissemination on the proposed sanitary landfill.
He said Araula and majority of the members of the Municipal Council complained the two agencies did not follow correct procedures.
"They might think that all the garbage would be brought there when it is only the residual," said Perdices referring to the community's opposition.
But, he still believed the proposed communal sanitary landfill in Dauin would push through.
Dumaguete City environment officer Rogelio Clamonte said only 20 tons of the city's already reduced 28-ton garbage disposed daily would be thrown into a landfill.
He explained that the remaining eight tons were biodegradable and recyclable wastes that need not be disposed.
Moreover, Clamonte said toxic wastes, usually from hospitals, were not residual garbage and were deposited in separate garbage tanks in Barangay Talay, Dumaguete City.
Perdices said all mayors had no choice because as single units, they could not raise the money to build a landfill.
"Whether they agree or not, they still have to build a landfill," Perdices said adding, "If they build their own landfill, then they would have to shell out their personal money."
Alternative
Perdices said the City Government has started looking for an alternative landfill if the proposal for Tunga-Tunga would not puruse.
He said Mayor Rodolfo Gonzalez Jr., of Valencia, was offering 200 hectares of land in Barangay Dobdob.
Mayor Lourdes Adanza of Zamboanguita has also offered to host a landfill.
"Mayor Gonzalez ug Mayor Lourdes Adanza are the ones who made the order," said Perdices.
The mayor said Arnaiz has asked the cluster to look for alternative sites and offered to help in terms of conducting a feasibility study and shouldering some of the funding needs.
(April 27, 2006 issue)
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