Seven junk shops told to shape up while waiting for transfer

BAGUIO CITY – Owners of seven junk shops at Irisan barangay here were ordered to fix their operations while waiting for their transfer to a new site at the city’s waste transfer station at the Baguio Dairy Farm.
The city’s Permits and Licensing Division headed by PLD Chief Allan Abayao last week required said junkyards to see to the upkeep of their businesses by maintaining cleanliness, orderliness and safety to avoid being locked down.
They were issued show cause notices why they should not be closed following complaints lodged by teachers and parents of students in a nearby school, barangay officials and health workers over the unsanitary and unsafe condition of said junkshops but were later allowed to continue their operation after complying with the order.
Abayao said the junk shop owners were earlier briefed on their planned transfer to the Dairy Farm station and were even toured to the site and all of them approved of the plan.
General Services Officer Eugene Buyucan said the order caused disruption in the schedule of collection of recyclable wastes in some barangays but this was addressed immediately.
He said there are around 85 volunteers from the different barangays who are collecting recyclable wastes and dealing with the junkshops.
“They are a great help to us in our waste reduction efforts as they collect 50 tons of recyclables per day,” Buyucan said.
Meanwhile, Buyucan said ten sets of garbage bins were distributed along Session Road last week for use of passersby.
“We hope the public will use these bins properly and will continue to respect our laws,” he said. /Aileen P. Refuerzo