ITOGON Mayor Victorio Palangdan was a no show at the first dialog with Baguio City Mauricio Domogan instead he sent a representative in his place to face the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Benguet Corporation (BC).
Domogan said the municipal environment officer was present in the talks which aimed to get the nod of Palangdan to use a portion of donated land from BC for the city’s engineered sanitary landfill (ESL).
The mayor added the representative was in no position to decide for the municipality despite the presentation given by BC as well as assurances by the city on the benefits in store for Itogon if they agree to the plan.
BC pledged close to 30 hectares to the city’s use within the patented area in the company’s property for the city to use for free which is strongly opposed by the municipality.
Domogan said the company 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.
Total waste generation of Baguio City is estimated to reach 402,776.38 kilograms per day.
Baguio waste is comprised at a 41.67 percent biodegradables, 33.78 percent recyclables, 24.15 percent residuals and 0.41 percent special waste.
Hauling, though expensive, has been identified by the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) of the DENR as an acceptable means of disposal for areas which can afford the service and is still without an ESL.
The chief executive lamented the municipality will not be at the losing end of the deal as there will be something in store for the highland town aside form taxes the city will be paying.
The city executive added the land area is still under patents and can be disposed of by BC in any way they wish, clarifying there is no legal impediment in the donation of the giant to the city.
Previously, a 24 hectare area was initially donated by BC to the city but was found to be suitable to use as an ESL as it is within an existing body of water within the 300-meter limitation set by the environment department pushing the management of the mining company to expand the area.
Another 5.11 hectares was added to donation be able to pass National solid Waste Management Commission criteria.
Palangdan has been opposed to the plans by the city and the BC as he is pushing for the same area to be return the municipality and be utilized as a “minahang bayan.”
The Itogon official also said displacement of residents as well as health concerns are among many points of opposition to the project.