Ecija garbage crisis looms with opposition to landfill

PALAYAN CITY, Nueva Ecija  – An official from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau has warned of a garbage crisis in the province if the residents would continue to oppose the 20-hectare sanitary landfill project here.          

           

Lormelyn Claudio, DENR-EMB regional director, said the proposed sanitary landfill project should be implemented because it is in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

She said RA 9003 provides for the establishment of sanitary landfills in place of open dumps.

Claudio noted the existing garbage problem in the region with the failure of local chief executives to comply with the provisions of RA 9003.

“You can see in the recent flashfloods the need to dispose of garbage properly,” she said.

Claudio added that proper garbage disposal should be the responsibility of mayors and barangay officials.

The EMB approved the application for an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) to Ecocsci Corp., a firm based in Quezon City, for a 20-hectare sanitary landfill project despite opposition from civil society groups and local residents.

She said her office has also issued ECCs for the operations of sanitary landfills in Sta. Rosa, also in Nueva Ecija and in Ma. Aurora town in Aurora province.

Palayan Mayor Romeo Capinpin signed an agreement with Ecosci chairman Juanito Ho for the establishment of a sanitary landfill in this city.

The proposed landfill will rise in Barangay Imelda Valley, which has been certified as an ideal site for a waste disposal facility in a joint survey conducted by the DENR, Ecosci and a resident geodetic engineer of the city government. -- MG