FLORIDABLANCA– Governor Lilia Pineda ordered on Tuesday the clearing of a 21-hectare lot in Barangay Nabuklod here, which will be used as an open dumpsite intended for the use of second district towns, including the municipality of Bacolor.
Pineda inspected Tuesday the west lateral portion of the Megadike, expressing alarm over the gargantuan problem of indiscriminate garbage dumping at the dike, particularly in the town of Guagua.
“There is an urgent need to clear the dike from garbage and shanties as well,” the governor said.
According to town Mayor Eduardo Guerrero, the proposed open dumpsite has passed all the requirements needed and imposed by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, as provided under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
It was learned that the said 21-hectare lot, which will be used as a dumpsite, is personally owned by Mayor Guerrero of this town.
Pineda said she is grateful to Mayor Guerrero for offering his town as the site for the proposed open dump, which would be used by Sasmuan, Sta. Rita, Guagua and this town.
rThe governor, to start the clearing operations at the proposed dumpsite, has hired the services of 18 indigenous peoples (IPs). Pineda said that as early as next week, the dump will be ready to accommodate waste, particularly those which have been illegally dumped at the megadike.
Pineda also said the Provincial Government will purchase compactor vehicles to minimize, if not do away, with the obnoxious odor that may emanate from the dumpsite.
Pineda has also ordered quarry checkers to monitor trucks coming from Metro Manila and check whether they are carrying toxic wastes, as reported by the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources in the province.
Pineda said the Japan International Cooperation Agency will be inspecting on August 1 the P4.6-billion Megadike and other related projects funded by the said international agency through loan agreement.
The Provincial Government, she said, will help convince them to provide more loans for the improvement of projects aimed at eliminating floods in the province. (Herbert Mapiles)