Baguio landfill bid going nowhere

By Dexter A. See

SABLAN, Benguet — The city government of Baguio has not made any progress in its bid to establish a sanitary landfill in this fifth class town after villagers voiced opposition to the solid waste management project because of unanswered questions relative to its safety and possible effects on the livelihood of the locals.

Hundreds of residents of Barangay Sawili here rejected the plan of Baguio to build a huge sanitary landfill in their place, in direct contrast to the repeated pronouncements of city officials that the people and officials of Sablan are supportive of the project.

Complaining residents said they will not give their social acceptance to the project because the city government was not able to convince them that their health will be spared from the adverse effects of toxic seepages from the facility.

They also want a guarantee that there will be no outbreak of diseases once garbage is dumped in the area and that their farming activities will not be prejudiced.

Earlier, city officials said Sablan agreed to host the landfill in a 22-hectare lot in Barangay Sawili since the facility will also be used by the town to address its future garbage problems.

Some municipal and barangay officials said they want to cooperate with Baguio in trying to find ways to address its garbage problem. However, they said Baguio officials should negotiate directly with them.

Local officials from other towns in Benguet surrounding Baguio City have already closed their doors to the city’s sanitary landfill because of the attitude problem of some ranking city officials who refused to deal directly with them. They also resent being treated as second class citizens by the city officials.