SP asks DENR for extension on landfill compliance
BACOLOD CITY – City Councilor Greg Gasataya, chairman of the clean and green coordinating action team, said they had requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resource (DENR) Regional Office for the extension of the deadline with regard to the establishment of Waste Management Facilities as embodied under RA 9003 or Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
The committee, Gasataya said, is in close coordination with the DENR as to the closure of the city's old dumpsite situated in Purok Tonggoy, Brgy. Mandalagan and also with the existing dumpsite in Brgy. Felisa both located in Bacolod City. He added that the city could right away start the development of the new dumpsite with an area of 70,000 square meters. However, there is a need to allocate separate funds considering that the P23 million will be solely utilized for the procurement of Lopez Property owned by the Dynasty Agricultural Corporation.
Earlier, the Sangguniang Panlungsod moved for the ratification of the Deed of Conditional Sale executed between the Lopez Family and the City represented by Mayor Evelio Leonardia. Said conditional sale stipulates the obligations to be carried out by the vendor, Dynasty Agricultural Corporation, and the vendee, City of Bacolod.
The contract price of P23 million will be paid upon the execution of the contract. In an interview with Mayor Leonardia, he never questioned the alleged overpricing on the property but rather insisted that only the Dynasty Agricultural Corporation has a notice to proceed from the DENR whereas the two other property owners who also submitted their documents do not have Notice to Proceed although their price is lower as compared to the Lopez property.
Leonardia said, it is now high time to acquire property lots for sanitary landfill since the SP unanimously passed a resolution ratifying said deed of conditional sale. On the other hand, Gasataya cited that the Purok Tonggoy dumpsite did not have formal closure when it was transferred to Brgy. Felisa last 2004. With the acquisition of the new dumpsite in the Lopez property adjacent to the exisiting dumpsite, Gasataya is confident that the program of waste reduction and segregation will be fully implemented.