Monday, September 07, 2009 [ manilatimes.net ]
BAGUIO CITY: Residents and local business groups have raised their concern over uncollected piles of garbage in the central business district and in various barangays as these may eventually affect the health condition in the communities.
It was noted that garbage collection in various barangays was scheduled every Friday morning, but on Friday the garbage went uncollected.
Piles of garbage are seen scattered even in Burnham Park.
The reason for the uncollected garbage was said to be the closure of the Irisan dump where the city government has contracted a private hauler to bring the garbage to the province of Tarlac.
It was noted that despite a total of almost 10 tons of garbage collected daily, the city government has not decided where to dump its garbage.
Still city officials are hopeful that opposition to the reopening of the Irisan dump will allow the city to pursue plans and projects addressing the garbage issue.
City administrator Peter Fianza, head of the city environment management office, said they are bent on convincing the residents that the city’s plans are all intended for the welfare of the community.
Residents have put up barricades for the fourth time on Tuesday to stop the city’s plan of dumping wastes anew in the area.
The residents who belong to Barangay Irisan, and the Asin Tadiangan Association had written Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. on August 27 warning that they would barricade the area should the city insist in using the dump in violation of an agreement reached in a previous meeting with city officials. The agreement was then signed by acting Mayor Rocky Thomas Balisong and Councilor Joel Alangsab, along with a memorandum issued by acting Mayor Daniel Fariñas in May 14 to use the dump exclusively as a residual waste transfer station.
Fianza said that the barricaders who as of press time remained in the area were just blocking the entry of new wastes in the dump but were allowing transfer activities so as not disrupt the hauling of garbage outside the city.
-- Thom F. Picaña with report from Aileen P. Refuerzo
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