City's new dumpsite still to pass geological test from DENR
BACOLOD CITY -- The City Government of Bacolod has already bought the seven-hectare property in Brgy. Felisa to be used as a dumpsite but it is not yet clear if it could pass the geological test of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Engr. Max Sillo, Environment and Natural Resources officer of Bacolod and member of the Technical Working Group of the Solid Waste Management of the city, however, assured that the city government is making the necessary preparations to meet the requirements set by the DENR.
"We have to follow the process of the DENR. And if there is a need for the endorsement of the barangay, we have to go to the barangay and show our courtesy, present the project and let the people understand about the project," Engr. Sillo said.
"If it (dumpsite) cannot pass through the geological process, the last recourse is engineering measures. If there is host clay available in the site, that could reduce the development cost of the sanitary landfill," he added.
Councilor Greg Gasataya, Chairman of the Bacolod City Clean and Green Coordinating Action Team, said that they purchased the said property because of the threat from the property owner represented by Ester Lopez, president of Dynasty Agricultural Corp. that they will close down the existing dumpsite if the city will not buy the seven-hectare property adjacent to it for its Solid Waste Facility or Sanitary Landfill.
The city bought the property at P340 per square meter or a total amount of P23.8 million.
Earlier, residents and barangay officials of Brgy. Felisa, where the property is located, expressed disappointment over the lack of respect by the city when it decided to purchase the property without consulting them.
Brgy. Felisa hosts the old city dumpsite. But Punong Barangay Perigrino Aspan said that they only agreed to have the dumpsite placed in their barangay for a period of three years and that period already expired last January 19, 2008.
“Sad to say, we have heard nothing from the city whether to extend or not, the use of the existing dump site. What they did was to continue dumping there," Aspan said.
Kagawad Ma. Fe Tresfuentes said they were not aware that Brgy. Felisa will become the permanent location of the city's dumpsite.
Tresfuentes said they are afraid of the implications on the health of their residents with the existence of the dumpsite in their barangay.
She also said they have learned from their lessons when the Bacolod City Water District established their wells in Brgy. Felisa where most of the wells experienced water depletion.
"We are the source of water that benefits other areas. But being the host, we didn't have water in our hand pumps and we are going back to BACIWA to ask for help. We just want to ask the city to observe the proper procedure regarding the permanent dumpsite," Tresfuentes said.