THE World Bank is set to award Iloilo City a P12-million grant for its being one of three pilot areas in the country to have a sustained program on integrated persistent organic pollutants (Ipops).
Engineer Helen Sotomil of the Iloilo City Solid Waste Management Board (ICSWMB) said the World Bank is interested in Iloilo due to readiness of its solid waste management board composed of public and private sectors and the very supportive local government officials headed by outgoing Mayor Jerry Treñas.
Sotomil said what specifically caught the interest of World Bank representatives is the joint project of the City Government and Holcim Philippines that works to send plastic garbage to be used as fuel of Holcim cement plant in Misamis Oriental.
Iloilo City has been sending several tons of baled plastic garbage to Holcim since last year as a preparation for the eventual closure of the old garbage dumpsite in Barangay Calajunan, Mandurriao district.
Engineer Neil Ravena, Calajunan dumpsite manager, said more than three hectares of the 23-hectare dumpsite area has been cleared of garbage and already covered with soil. The area will be developed into an ecological park.
Also, 10 hectares are earmarked as one cell sanitary landfill to be started before the end of this year, while a transition dumpsite is located behind the ecological park area.
Ravena said the City Government is now doing a similar project with allotted salary of the manpower. The project will cover series of trainings, documentation and dumpsite cover, among others. (LCP)