Itogon residents seek Duterte’s help

ITOGON residents have sought the help of President Rodrigo Duterte against the establishment of an engineered sanitary landfill at Tapak, Ampucao.

Close to 584 signatures signed the petition which was also addressed to Department of Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Roy Cimatu and Benguet Congresman lawyer Ronald Cosalan urging the president not to approved the proposed ESL.

"Allowing them to do so is sacrificing a lot of people's health and its natural habitats from enjoying the benefits of healthy environment," stated in the petition.

"Most resources of people living here is gardening, coffee plantation and some fruit bearing trees, aquatic and farming livelihood for the people living near the proposed ESL would be entirely affected with the leachate and gas emission," the letter further reads.

The petition added the construction of ESL is a violation of the Executive 23. s. 2011 declaring a moratorium on the cutting and harvesting timber in the natural and residual forests and creating the anti-illegal logging task force.

Petitioners also cited leachate to the ground from the tons of garbage to be buried may contaminate the underground water sources and the use by residents in the nearby natural springs.

While Mount Ulap is above the proposed ESL, it will hinder the tourists from visiting the area and will affect the livelihood of the barangay and tour guides.

Itogon Mayor Victorio Palangdan however said they are mandated to build a solid waste facility.

"We will be charged before the Ombudsman if we are not doing anything to solve our garbage problem. If you are the mayor, what solutions will you have? Sometimes development entails sacrifice,” Palangdan added.

Palangdan added it will not affect the water sources of the people while dispelling rumors thousands of trees will be cut down.

“In the program of work, it includes safeguarding the water sources and limit the cutting of trees," said Palangdan.

The ESL is also seen to cater to Baguio, La Trindad Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay.

"Sometimes the protestors are not exactly from Ampucao. There are outsiders who are really doing something that destroys the development and promotion of our environment. Republic 9003 is under the national government and DENR will decide the matter whether or not despite protests for the benefit of the community, but if they will say stop then okay we will put our garbage on top of our houses," he said.

The proposed ESL covers some 19.8 hectares which was approved by former Mayor Oscar Camantilles.

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