CLARK FREEPORT -- The Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill is not a competitor, said Floridablanca Enviro Corporation (FEC) manager Mike Tapang when asked by members of the Capampangan in Media, Incorporated (CAMI) during a forum here Friday.
Tapang said the Kalangitan landfill at Capas town in Tarlac province, which is operated by the Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation, and the proposed sanitary landfill in Barangay Pabanlag in Floridablanca may co-exist and complement each other in terms of operation.
A Malaysian firm, Berjaya Corporation Berhad, has proposed the construction of a sanitary landfill worth P1.2 billion inside a 100-hectare property in Barangay Pabanlag.
According to Tapang, the country, particularly Central Luzon, needs several waste management facilities in order to solve the environment and garbage problem.
Berjaya Corporation Berhad has signified its intention to operate and manage at least seven sanitary landfills in the Philippines to help the country solve its waste problem, Tapang said.
The sanitary landfill, which will also serve as a waste-to-energy plant, is expected to address the solid waste problem in Pampanga.
The project will be implemented by the proponent in partnership with the Floridablanca Enviro Corporation.
Berjaya Philippines President Paulino Soo assured the people of Floridablanca that there will be no toxic water seepage, odor and flies in the area once the facility becomes operational.
Soo said the sanitary landfill and waste to energy plant is a replica of Malaysia's known Bukit Tagar Sanitary Landfill (BTSL), which started operations in April 2005.
The landfill is designed to cater to about 1,000 ton of waste per day for a span of 25 years.
"During our discussion with Vice Governor Dennis Pineda, they've seen that Pampanga really needs a sanitary landfill. After that discussion, because we've seen their interest in the project, we started sending technical people to check the geographics and the people around the area and we projected the needs of Pampanga as a province," Soo added.
Situated at the center of Central Luzon, Pampanga is an ideal location of the waste to energy plant.
"Four to five years ago, the vice-governor visited Berjaya Malaysia with no plan to establish such a modern facility in Pampanga. He'd seen how the facility was made and how the solid waste was processed," he said.
Soo also stated that he understands the clamor of the people in Floridablanca and the local government unit as well, because of the impression that a landfill is a dumpsite.
But he urged group leaders to look at the facility first in Malaysia as he assured them that the corporation does not have anything to hide in this project and that their intention is to bring a world class waste-to-energy facility in the province.
"Our commitment is to bring the same quality that we have in Malaysia in a progressive LGU, right demographics and right size available. And we will run it privately, what's important in building a landfill is the discipline of the investors running the project with no shortcut and no scavengers," he said.
Soo also assured that they will hire locals once the project acquires its green light to construct.
"This is our showcase project and I assure that once it is finished and is operation, many will go there because a lot of people believe in it. I can't wait until we finally start groundwork and inaugurate. We want something that Pampanga and Barangay Pabanlag and Floridablanca is proud of. Seepage into the groundwater will never happen and I can assure you of that," Soo said.
The proposed sanitary landfill is expected to operate by the end of 2019.
Pabanlag Barangay Chair Ernesto Manasan, during the public hearing held, expressed support to the project.
Tapang, a former Pampanga board member, told the residents that their group has already acquired a barangay and a municipal resolution in support of the project.
He also denied reports that they acquired their permit from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Tapang expressed confidence that the project will be implemented for as long as they comply with the requirements.
He said that their group will withdraw its proposal if other firms submit better terms.
There are 2,000 individuals living in Barangay Pabanlag.
