Felisa dumpsite now rehabilitated
BACOLOD CITY — At least 2.5 hectares of the 4.2-hectare dumpsite at Barangay Felisa are now covered with soil and rehabilitated, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said.
Leonardia said that once the entire 4.2 hectares are fully closed and rehabilitated, the property will be returned to the Lopez family who owns it, adding that the closure and rehabilitation of the existing dumpsite is in compliance with the provisions set by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The mayor stressed that the closure of the existing dumpsite and the construction of a sanitary landfill are among the mandates of the Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which all local government units are poised to comply.
He also clarified that the sanitary landfill will be constructed on a 7-hectare land right beside the existing dumpsite and not on the existing dumpsite itself.
Leonardia said that the sanitary landfill project was drawn not only to comply with the law but more importantly, to improve the environmental health of the city and to help mitigate climate change. He also urged all Bacoleños to continue adhering to the “no segregation, no collection” policy set by the city government for effective solid waste management.
The mayor said that the city government is also set to acquire additional dump trucks as the 32 units that are presently in use are not enough to service all areas in Bacolod. He also said that while the city’s solid waste management program is not perfect yet, it is noteworthy that the first critical steps have been taken and that measures are being done to further improve the program.