THE Municipal Council of La Trinidad, Benguet is seeking permission from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Cordillera for the construction of a temporary residual dumpsite at the Alno Sanitary Landfill.
The legislative branch is asking DENR-Cordillera regional director Ralph Pablo for assistance to open a Temporary Residual Containment Area (TRCA) inside the 9.8 hectare Alno government-owned site.
Councilor Roderick Awingan, author of the resolution, said the TRCA is needed to cut expenses of the municipality in hauling its garbage out of the Valley.
“The temporary containment area is being applied so that the monthly expenses for the garbage hauling will be saved. If the DENR-CAR will be able to assist us with it, then the supposed budget can be used for more important projects here,” Awingan said.
At present, La Trinidad is paying hauling fees amounting to almost P2 million monthly to transfer garbage to Tarlac.
The Valley produces an average of 90 tons of garbage per day and about 60 percent of which are biodegradable materials while the rest are residuals.
Awingan said if the DENR Regional Office will allow the TRCA, P800,000 is gleaned to be saved monthly before the re-opening of the Alno Engineered Sanitary Landfill this December.
“Maybe we can save more, as long as the biodegradable waste can also be managed. This TRCA is only temporary. Just until we can re-open the Alno dump this December,” Awingan explained.
Now, Cell 3 of the Alno landfill is being completed before the projected deadline in November.
Earlier this month, the Sangguniang Bayan has taken into consideration the purchase of another garbage truck which will service the 16 barangays of the municipality.
A total of P10 million has been approved for the 2016 supplemental fund for the hauling of the Valley’s garbage, but reports say the LGU still owes the private hauler P5 million for the service made from April to June.
“Of course we need to prioritize. The option to buy another truck is highly accepted since it can be used for future operations once Alno is again operational,” Awingan closed.