CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- Alarmed with the reports of hundreds of tons of wastes dumped into the province’s waterways, the Provincial Board (PB) during its annual budget hearing recently proposed for additional funds for solid waste management.
Some 238 tons of garbage is being dumped daily into the Pampanga River due to lack of sanitary landfills and law-mandated dumpsites in the province, reported Environment and Natural Resources Office (Enro) head Engineer Sally Adonis.
He further said much of the wastes from various municipalities find it hard to make their way to the Metro Clark landfill in Capas, Tarlac because of insufficiency of funds, despite the Capitol's subsidy of at least P100,000 per town yearly.
The Enro has been actively pursuing waste management trainings and programs at the grassroots level.
But the official said the agency has to gain headway as it is being overtaken by the huge volume of waste generated by households and industrial establishments.
Adonis also disclosed that Vice Governor Joseller "Yeng" Guiao raised the possibility of pouring in more funds for waste management and disposal.
“Now we know that this is really the very reason why we have recent big flooding in the province. We at the PB deem it to have more funds for this to solve this problem.” said Guiao.
Guiao suggested that the Enro subsidize tipping fees for garbage haulers, estimated at P800 per ton, and the purchase of more garbage trucks for municipalities and barangays.
“Anyway, we have the budget for that so I see no reason why we cannot help and solve our garbage problem. Additionally, let's hope that the (sanitary landfill) facility being constructed in Lubao soon materializes. It will be a big help in solid waste management,” he told Sun.Star.