DESPITE another snub by Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan, Baguio City Mayor Mauricio Domogan remains bullish on his stand for acquisition of Itogon land for the city's Engineered Sanitary Landfill.

Palangdan did not attend the second meeting with Domogan, the Environment Department and Benguet Corporation (BC) at the Baguio City Hall on Wednesday, sending an environment officer anew.

Domogan said it is unfortunate Palangdan had other pressing matters to attend to, adding if a meeting would ensue if set in Itogon, he would be willing to go.

The Baguio mayor said the Itogon representative was only present to listen and was not in any position to decide on matters stressing legality of the BC land donation to the pine city was further explained.

BC pledged close to 30 hectares for free to the city’s use within the patented area in the company’s property for a landfill but is strongly opposed by the municipality.

Domogan said the patented land of BC remains to be property of the company even after it has stopped operation in the area citing the mining laws without the provision of the area reverting into public land.

BC has agreed to give Itogon 9,000 square meters of land with an additional 11 hectares for the municipality to utilize as their ESL as well.

However, Domogan said, an unconfirmed rejection of the land donation has been made by the municipality without reason.

“I do not want to prejudice Itogon. We do not like to make it appear that we [Baguio] will be the only one to use it, there is a portion for Itogon,” Domogan said.

According to reports, Itogon folk along with Palangdan and the local council are against the plans, refusing to give Palangdan authority to deal with Baguio City or BC to build the garbage facility.