Friday, June 08, 2007 Dumpsite woes face Angeles City By Dante M. Fabian
ANGELES CITY -- The Cuayan controlled dumpsite here was recently closed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) reportedly pursuant to the Solid Waste Management Act or Republic Act (RA) 9003.
The lack of a dumpsite has caused garbage from households and businesses to litter major routes, including the city proper here, giving people the impression that garbage collection was stopped.
Efforts of city officials headed by Mayor Carmelo Lazatin to solve the garbage disposal problem since the closure of the Cuayan dumpsite on May 31 have also faced stiff opposition from farmers around the alternative dumpsite on a piece of land in Barangay Manwali.
Despite the lack of a dumpsite, trucks continue to collect trash and these trucks were parked for several days at the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) compound in Barangay Pampang with their load of garbage.
Angeles City officials, together with Barangay Cuayan chairman Pedro Lansang, are still negotiating with the opposing farmers to ease their protest against the alternative dumpsite.
The lack of a disposal facility has disrupted the garbage collection and disposal operations of barangays, causing residents to bring their trash to routes serviced by the City Government's garbage trucks.
This has caused unsightly garbage piling along major routes in the city proper such as McArthur Highway, Henson, Sto. Rosario, Sto. Entierro, Rizal St., Jesus St., Kalayaan Road and others served by the City Government's trucks.
"It's not true that collection of garbage was stopped," said Francisco Pangilinan, Angeles City Clean and Green executive officer and Environment Management Service (EMS) officer-in-charge.
He said on the contrary, the EMS has increased garbage collection along major routes from the usual two to five trips per day.
Pangilinan explained that the heaps of garbage on the major streets were caused by the disruption of collection operations in barangays due to the lack of disposal sites.
However, he said barangay officials are now working out alternative disposal sites in their respective areas.
Complaints
Pangilinan said the DENR ordered the closure of the Cuayan controlled dump in response to a complaint filed by Ygonia Construction Corporation, the company that developed the Angeleno Ville.
The company owners complained that buyers of lots at the Angeleno Ville are backing out due to the nuisance from the garbage dump.
DENR-approved alternate dumpsite
The Angeles City Government is now preparing a controlled dumpsite in Barangay Manwali on a farmland owned by a certain Teddy Cano.
Pangilinan said the alternate dumpsite was approved by the DENR and is being constructed in accordance with the environment agency's conditions.
However, the DENR allowed the City Government to operate the temporary dumpsite only until June 30.
Pangilinan said the dumpsite is being installed with clay-lining which is one of the requirements set by the DENR.
