The construction of the initial phase of the 5.9-hectare sanitary landfill project in Purok Acacia, Barangay Felisa, Bacolod City will start in January next year.
During the groundbreaking rites yesterday, A.L. Salazar Construction president, Andy Santiago, committed to finish the first phase of the sanitary landfill by June 30, 2011. He said the project that had passed through the eye of a needle, will be a showcase in the south that will greatly help their reputation in Manila. They are also involved in the landfill projects of San Mateo and Montalban in Rizal, which will cost the local governments about P25 million per meter, he added. Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the sanitary landfill is the most important project of his administration since environmental concern is a priority concern. “Where environmental protection program is concerned, this is definitely a giant leap,” he said. The first phase of the landfill project of Bacolod covering 2.7 hectares has a project cost of P32 million that will be sourced from the deferred Internal Revenue Allotment of the city. The second phase covers 3.2 hectares. Leonardia said that, based on the report of the Department of Environment and National Resources Mines and Geoscience Bureau in Quezon City, the present location of the sanitary landfill is acceptable and very strategic. In his report dated July 22, 2009, DENR-MGB supervising science research specialist Ricarte Javelosa said the present existence and operations of the roadways in the area provide an excellent accessibility to the landfill site, and that there is no sign of residential occupancy in and nearby the area. He said these present physical conditions and the soil properties around the site is fit for the development of a sanitary landfill. Javelosa said that with a sound and effective sanitary landfill design and operation, threat of groundwater contamination in the area is considered extremely remote. He said the sanitary landfill is safe from flood-prone areas and is also located outside the hydrogeological environment of the Lupit River Basin and Caliban River Basin, so the geographical alienation of the project makes the groundwater reservoir of Lupit River safe from any threat of contamination. The landfill is obviously outside the groundwater well field of Bacolod City and lies away from the general flow paths of the water table, he added. Javelosa said the landfill is adequate to accommodate the waste generation of Bacolod in the next 10 years or more. “Taking into account the present general geomorphology, hydrological conditions and physical environment of Bacolod City, nowhere can you find an area for the sanitary landfill better than the present proposed site,” he said. Former Councilor Greg Gasataya, who chaired the Committee on Environment, said the landfill project was issued an ECC by the DENR VI on Dec. 6, 2010. He said this is one project that is highly politicized but fortunately, the competent authorities prevailed. DENR regional director Oscar Cabanaya said the sanitary landfill should be considered as an investment of Bacolod City that will ensure a clean environment and help boost its tourism industry. Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said, at long last, Bacolod’s dream to have its own sanitary landfill has been realized. “This is not for political reasons but for the future of our children. Let us do our share in keeping Bacolod clean,” he said. Councilor Al Victor Espino said Bacolod will be one of the first in the region to implement this kind of project, while the contractor will implement all modern technologies to sustain the program. The landfill project is within the boundary of Bacolod, Murcia and Bago and is located about 1.5 to 3 kilometers east-northeast of the five production wells of the Bacolod City Water District in Felisa. Also present at the groundbreaking rites were BACIWA general manager Juliana Carbon, Felisa Barangay Captain Mona Dia Jardin, and Councilors Em Legaspi-Ang, El Cid Familiaran and Caesar Distrito and several barangay captains.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Visayan Daily Star
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