BAGUIO City Mayor Mauricio Domogan clarified no dumping is being done at Barangay Irisan in a bid to appease fears of Tuba folk.

The chief executive said the area is being utilized as a treatment site for the city’s organic fertilizer project as he assured instructions to the General Services Office have been made to remedy complaints of Tuba folk over the stench.

Domogan confirmed the former Irisan dumpsite site is being utilized to process fertilizer with raw materials being brought in the site explaining the city has no dryer and conveyor.

The use of the area for fertilizer processing has been approved by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources despite the Writ of Kalikasan lodged and protections orders in effect.

During the height of Typhoon Mina in 2011, at least five people, two of them known to be children, were buried alive in the trash slide at the former Irisan dump, which pushed for the filing of a Writ of Kalikasan against the city by groups led by national artist for visual arts Benedicto Cabrera.

The move ended the use of the dump and the protection of the area, pushing the city to spend millions to haul out garbage until a site is set for the city’s trash.

Domogan is working to end garbage woes of the city and is banking on the positive response of Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan for the city’s Engineered Sanitary Landfill (ESL).

Talks between the two chief executives has begun to use land given to the city by Benguet Corporation use for its ESL.