THE Municipal Government of La Castellana has already obtained the title for the 11.1-hectare property in Barangay Manghanoy that will host the town’s sanitary landfill, which is positioned to address the garbage woes as well as provide income and livelihood generation to the locals.
Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Mangilimutan said the local government can now pay the full amount of the lot worth about P8.8 million to the former owner, the heirs of Rodriguez family.
The title was transferred under the municipal government on April 18, 2022, but the check worth P5.3 million that accounts for the remaining payment was just turned over to the family on Friday, April 29.
Nicor-Mangilimutan recalled that in 2019, the local government paid an initial P3.5 million after entering a deed of conditional sale with the heirs of the Rodriguez family.
“Based on the deed of conditional sale, we can only pay the full amount once the title has been transferred already under the name of the municipal government,” she said, stressing that this is contrary to what her political critics have been saying against the administration.
The mayor said they have been called several times by the Sangguniang Bayan amid allegations that the property to be used for the development of the sanitary landfill has been fully paid for already by the local government.
“So, I just hope that this will clear things and put an end to the issue. The full payment was made after the transfer of the title to the municipal government,” Nicor-Mangilumtan said.
She said it was favorable to the local government as we are allowed to utilize the lot following the initial payment provided under the deed of conditional sale, she said.
Representing the heirs of the Rodriguez family, Gerlie Rodriquez-Baron confirmed that the full payment was just made last week as it complied with certain processes.
“We are happy that our property has been chosen by the local government for the sanitary landfill development project that will positively impact the town and residents,” she said.
For the municipal government, Nicor-Mangilimutan said they are optimistic that the sanitary landfill will address the garbage problems in the southern Negros Occidental locality.
She said the town is eyeing the conversion of garbage into useful materials like chairs and tables utilizing the plastic melting machine given by Senator Cynthia Villar.
La Castellana will also be acquiring a bio composter machine to produce fertilizer using the biodegradable wastes, and pulverizer to produce bricks that can be used in beautifying the roads.
“We look forward to not just an ordinary landfill that can address our garbage problems, but also job generation for the constituents near the area and at the same time livelihood for those who want to sell there,” she said, adding that “our plan is to make it an eco-friendly sanitary landfill.”
As initial development, the mayor said they will utilize the P30 million fund from the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental after the election banning period.
Nicor-Mangilimutan, however, said that they need more funds so the local government has a loan package proposal for sanitary landfill development that includes heavy equipment, garbage collector and dump trucks for the barangays.
She said the P120 million fund needed for sanitary landfill forms part of about P320 million loan they are eyeing to access from the Land Bank of the Philippines or Development Bank of the Philippines.
Other components of the loan include the establishment of a college, infirmary, social activity center, drainage system, road and market development, and construction of tourism facilities like a hotel that will cater to the rising number of tourists visiting the town.
“These programs and projects are all geared towards improving our economy and providing the people of La Castellana more income, employment and livelihood opportunities,” she said, adding that the loan was approved by the Municipal Development Council and with authority from the Municipal Council.
Moreover, the mayor said they target to complete the sanitary development in the next three years, within her last term if voted again during this May 9 elections.
Nicor-Mangilimutan said that as a first-class municipality, La Castellana is fast-growing when it comes to economy, thus, problems with garbage, especially in Barangay Robles, should be addressed.
“Aside from being a necessity, the establishment of a sanitary landfill is provided under the law. The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has been demanding us to have our own facility,” she said, adding that the landfill will also cater to nearby localities like Moises Padilla and Isabela.