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[av_heading heading=’VILLAGERS OPPOSE LANDFILL PROJECT Health, environmental concerns cited’ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=’30’ subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”][/av_heading]
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Sunday, December 3, 2017
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DUMAGUETE City – The proposed sanitary landfill site in a multimillion peso property in Barangay Candauay is drawing opposition from residents who cited health and environmental concerns.
This week, members of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) granted Mayor Felipe Antonio Remollo the authority to purchase a 3.5-hectare lot worth P18.7 million from spouses Francisco and Salvacion Divinagracia for the city’s sanitary landfill.
The move was an answer to the recurring notices that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) had been issuing to stop the operation of the city’s open dumpsite, which was already declared illegal.
The SP also aims to address the worsening problem on garbage collection and disposal in the city.
The city hall reported that Dumaguete produces 70 to 80 tons of waste daily.
On Friday, residents of Barangays Camanjac, which is an adjacent village to Barangay Candauay, signed a three-page opposition letter addressed to Remollo.
The residents were against the proposed construction of the landfill near their village.
The proposed landfill site is 100 meters away from the LCP Bloomington housing project in Barangay Camanjac.
The signature campaign against the proposal was backed by the Catholic Church headed by Father Sulpicio Vincoy.
According to Marilyn Kays, one of the residents, the city government must comply with the “parameters of the law” before it converts the area into a sanitary landfill.
Kays said they understand the necessity of the landfill but its proposed location is close to a residential area, thus posing health hazards to the community.
The site is also along a river and is vulnerable to flooding, Kays added.
The signature campaign is ongoing. Kays said they plan to give the letter to Remollo tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Loreto Revac, Provincial Environment Management Unit officer-in-charge of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), said on Friday that the construction of the landfill will be a “lengthy process.”
Revac said a technical team of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau in Region 7 must first conduct a geological suitability assessment in the area.
There will also be other processes that will be done in coordination with the EMB, Revac added.
These processes include the determination of daily waste generation of the city and social acceptability of residents/community of the proposed project, environmental impact assessment, and securing an environmental compliance certificate, among others.
He said a joint assessment and recommendation must then be made to be reviewed by the DENR regional director. (PNA/PN)
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