Solid waste mgt advocates visit San Carlos City’s Eco-Center
The Bacolod Anti-BAHA Alliance (BAHA), Alyansa Kontra Basura, (ALKOBA) and the officials of Brgy. Felisa visited San Carlos City recently to see for themselves the multi-awarded Eco-Center of the city.
San Carlos City Administrator Francisco B. Tolcidas welcomed the group of Mrs. Jean Trebol, Gina Piccio, Alan Gensoli, Lourdes Ledesma, Merly Severino, Nena Rosello, all BAHA members, Felisa Brgy. Capt. Perigrino Aspan, Ma. Fe Tresfuentes and some council members and ALKOBA members.
Engr. Arthur Batomalaque, Environmental Management Specialist 1, made a presentation of the Solid Waste Management program of the city.
He said it costs the city P7.5 million to construct the 5-has. Eco-Center with an operating cost of P10.3 million a year.
The city government did not buy the land for the Eco-Center but they are renting it for P30,000 per hectare.
Other local government units spend more than P150 million for its Sanitary Landfill but San Carlos constructed its Eco-Center for only P7.5 million.
The San Carlos City Government headed by Mayor Eugenio Jose “Bong” Lacson hired a private group–Genesis Foundation to conduct the Information, Education and Communication Campaign (IECC) on the Solid Waste Management program of the city. They started campaigning in 2003 up to the present.
“They hired and trained the personnel for the sustainability of the SWM program,” he said.
With the SWM program of the city, only 30% of the 17 tons of garbage goes to the Sanitary Landfill.
Batomalaque led the group to the old dumpsite of the city in Brgy. 1. It took the city nine months to finally close the city. They started the rehabilitation in 2005 and completed it in 2007.
There were five gas vents set up in the old dumpsite for the release of the methane gas.
Batomalaque also led the group to the People’s Park which was the oldest dumpsite of San Carlos.
The area was transformed into a beautiful park that houses the miniture government buildings, playground and other recreational facilities. It’s beside the sea and one can enjoy the beauty of nature while inside the People’s Park.
