Mayor to Pursue City’s Planned Waste System
April 18, 2015
BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan is pursuing the programed Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) which is seen to put to rest permanently solid wastes concerns in the summer capital.
Initial stages of consultations between the city government and the affected community within the 130 hectare Santo Tomas Area has already been done to solicit other concerns of the residents.
Domogan said,”the line of communication between affected residents and barangay officials with the city government will remain open to better address valid concerns.”
Initial inspection and site survey has been undertaken which will be used to ascertain the number of residents who will be affected once site development pushes through.
“They will be involved in all aspects of the project and I hope they will cooperate with the city government, “he said.
Recently, some members of the city council also conducted public consultations in the vicinity of the Santo Tomas site where a number of issues have been raised by affected residents.
The mayor assured the city will respect any legal claim in the area for as long as it is supported by legal documents.
“We appeal to our peers not to politicize the issue, instead we should support the establishment of the ISWMS because this is for the benefit of everyone, “he said.
A 30 hectare lot within the site is also being eyed for the expansion of the Baguio City Cementary.
Domogan said, “the establishment of an Engineered Sanitary Landfill (ESL) within the site before the establishment of the Waste-to-Energy Facility is just temporary.”
“The ESL will be used as temporary storage while the waste-to-energy facility is being established, eventually, we will not be needing the ESL if the ISWMS is fully operationalized”, he said.
The waste system will be safe, environment friendly and clean, the system will integrate a very advanced technology that will surely change how we perceive waste disposal, “Domogan said.
The mayor said the city is coordinating with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to conform with all environmental laws and procedures that would be required before the project starts.
As early as 2009, the City Council has confirmed the Santo Tomas city property as the site for the city’s Engineered Sanitary Landfill (ESL) Facility and classified the area as ‘priority city needs’ area.
Five sites has been evaluated by the Solid Waste Management Board which was then chaired by former Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, Jr. and the Santo Tomas site was recommended as most feasible.
In 2011, due to the difficulty in putting-up the ESL, the Environmental Recycling System (ERS) was acquired to manage bio-degradable wastes being transported out of the city and converting the same to fertilizer for beneficial use.
The closure of the Irisan Facility in July 15, 2008 and the eventual hauling-out of waste impacted huge costs against the city government prompting city’s Punong Barangays to extend support in mitigating costs to the city by practically implementing reduction of wastes at source and mandatory segregation of wastes.
Presently, the General Services Office (GSO) continues to haul out approximately 122 tons of solid waste to a landfill in the lowlands.
Domogan said, “the establishment of the ISWMS will surely address how we dispose of the increasing waste generated daily and erase the costs of hauling, tipping and transportation fees being incurred by the present set-up not to mention the revenue the city can get if the Waste-to-energy facility is realized./Paul Rillorta
