Garbage politics

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P. Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – Years back, it was unthinkable for garbage to become a political issue in this once “City of pines” now dubbed “Garbage capital of northern Luzon.”

Although saying no politics was involved in dipping his fingers on local affairs of the city, Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan, touted as Baguio’s “janitor” when he was thrice mayor here in the late 90’s, pushed for an executive-legislative decision to address the problem that has been irking residents, especially the business community.

Domogan said the city should focus on a permanent solution claiming, “There seems no action to implement the permanent solution.” Domogan, a leading stalwart of the ruling Lakas-CMD in the Cordillera, who wants to retake his old post as mayor earlier urged Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. (who already bolted Kampi) “to finally nail down the problem.” It was as if he ws taunting Bautista’s administration style. Bautista is running as an independent for Baguio’s lone district.

The congressman was quoted as saying he wanted to involve himself in solving the problem and his snide remark on Bautista’s governance has been interpreted as connected to his plans to become mayor once more.

Domogan is up against city councilor Elaine Sembrano who had not talked so much about the problem, former city councilor Jose Molintas who had blamed Domogan while he was mayor for “overpopulating” the city, former city mayor Jun Labo who remains to be seen again, including Mark Go, former president Estrada’s millionaire-ally who has not been in Baguio after Estrada’s ouster.

Bautista Jr., had a ready answer everytime he was asked by the media about the garbage probelm – “I inherited it.” He said, he was actually the one who closed the unlawful Irisan dumpsite.

Pundits have it however that the dump was closed but it was due to the people living in the area who barricaded it to stop the city’s garbage trucks from dumping making it a danger zone as it debris cascaded down houses below threatening to bury residents alive.

The city government tried to reopen the dump but then, militant groups there (who are now reportedly alied with Molintas) barricaded the site once more leading to clashes with police and city employes.

At the moment, Bautista said, hauling the garbage out of Baguio in the absence of an engineered sanitary landfill was still the clearest solution. But Domogan insists a “permanent solution is better than hauling that will eat up the resources of the city government”.

Bautista’s solution to “salvage” the “stinking garbage” issue against his administration, has been meeting stiff opposition by those holding the power of the city’s purse. City councilors, most of whom are running in 2010, have thumbed down more funding for hauling because according to them, some chunks of these funds are going to fatten pockets some more.

Until now, the city council was still considering alternative sites for an engineered sanitary landfill. Councilor Isabelo Cosalan earlier urged the city environment and parks management office and other planners to make studies and consider other garbage dumpsites.

In November last year, the solid waste management board prepared a report identifying nine proposed sites for an ESL later reduced to five and ranked for priority and viability.Topping the sites were Tinongdan, Itogon; Antamok, Tuba and Sablan towns.

Vice Mayor Daniel Farinas said although the Sto. Tomas area in Baguio was not among those earlier identified in the report submitted by the TWG, it was approved for an ESL as it was found out to be owned by the city government and therefore not needed to be purchased.

The council said there was need to study alternative sites in case the planned ESL at Sto. Tomas will not be realized considering opposition of local folk some of whom claimed the lot was part of their ancestral domain.

At this, time, garbage is still being hauled to far Capas in Tarlac and costing the city government a sizable sum money. Now pundits are saying, as to who is benefiting from the hauling, once ask any city government employee in the know. Garbage politics anyone?