RESIDENTS of Ampucao in Itogon, Benguet, are calling President Rodrigo Duterte to intervene in the proposed Engineered Sanitary Landfill in the area.
Some 256 residents along Philex-Kias road have signed the petition opposing the proposed ESL site and will submit the position paper to President Duterte after the Protected Area Management Bureau (PAMB) endorsed the proposed sanitary landfill.
The petitioners recommends the delisting of the area under the coverage of the National Protected Areas System (NIPAS) Act of 1992 being part of the Lower Agno Watershed and Forest Reserved (LAWFR).
"To be clear, we are not against an engineered sanitary landfill as it is mandated by the law but we are against the proposed area," stated in the letter.
The petitioners said residents living near, along and below the proposed area deserve clean air and a healthy living.
“Creeks and rivers downstream that supply water to San Roque Dam, some part of the Province of Pangasinan depends on the rivers and creeks as their source of water for their daily household and livelihood use. The area has vast fully grown Benguet Pine Trees and saplings which thrived for many years. There would also be a significant impact on the newly found livelihood of the residents as tour guides, porters and forest guards which could have an adverse effect on the number of tourists who will hike and camp at Mount Ulap,” the petition added.
The petition is also seeking for the intervention of the President and his non-approval of the segregation of the proposed area in the LAWFR and the delisting of the area from the NIPAS law.
"We support an ESL which will be implemented in an area which will have less or NO detrimental effects to its surroundings especially to the health of those near it and will not degrade our natural resources," petitioners added.
Earlier last month, the resolution was received by the Environment and Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the Cordillera region.
EMB regional director Reynaldo Digamo meanwhile said the area should be cleared whether it is part of the protected area under the NIPAS Act.
Digamo added the proposed area in Ampucao is very rugged and the possibility of being developed into a sanitary landfill entails engineering interventions, high cost and mitigating structures to secure the stability of the area.