Korean firm sets $80 M for Benguet trash site

By Dexter A. See

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet — A Korean engineering company has obtained at least $80 million for conduct of a feasibility study to determine areas where this province’s sanitary landfill would be located.

The fund for the conduct of the foreign-assisted study was sourced from the Korean International Cooperation Agency.

It is intended to promote solid waste management in the province that would address the garbage problem and prevent it from becoming out of control just like what is happening in Baguio City.

The conduct of the study by the Dohwa Consulting Engineers Co. Ltd. came as a result of an agreement entered into between the provincial government of Benguet and the Korean province of Sheungshoengbuk-bo.

The Korean firm is tasked to determine possible areas in the province which a sanitary landfill could be established.

Provincial officials said that two areas in the province -- the towns of Itogon and Tuba -- are being considered as areas for the conduct of the study, noting that the two municipalities are searching for areas where to locate an engineered sanitary landfill.
One of the possible areas to be used as a sanitary landfill is an open pit mine site of Benguet Corp.

Earlier, the Regional Development Council in the Cordillera endorsed the conduct of the feasibility study that would explore areas where to build the sanitary landfill that would be used by the province’s 13 towns.

The RDC said local governments in the Cordillera Region should now comply with Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act which was enacted to protect the people from the harmful effects of improperly disposed garbage in communities.

Initial studies show the volume of garbage generated daily in the province is 194 tons with food waste and other organics accounting for 54.77 percent.

Of the recyclables, papers account for 9.8 percent; reusable plastics, 3.61 percent; glass and bottles, 4.57 percent; metals, 1.05 percent and other recyclables, 1.65 percent.
Special wastes account for four percent, while residuals like plastics and diapers account for 4.75 and three percent, respectively. Styrofoam consists of .76 percent, and other residuals, 9.4 percent.

The RDC has been constantly urging local government units in the region to work for the establishment of their engineered sanitary landfills.