‘Saboteurs’ trying to destroy city dumpsite

By Paul Rillorta and Aileen Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the Irisan dumpsite held up despite continuous monsoon rains that battered the city the past weeks, even as saboteurs reportedly tried to destroy the facility

           

Domogan said personnel of the city’s solid waste management division and engineering division were keeping watch over the dumpsite which has a huge gap on its retaining wall caused by a major typhoon which hit the city last year and caused the trash slide.

           

 “We are thankful that no trash slide occurred in the area despite the heavy rains,” mayor said.

            

The mayor said this can be attributed to the early remedial measures undertaken in the area including the repair of the canals to prevent run-off water from passing through the facility.

           

The remedial measures were instituted even as the city awaits completion of the paper work for rehabilitation of the collapsed retaining wall to be funded from the P80 million approved by Malacanang through the Dept. of Public Works and Highways .

           

The mayor said the program of work for the project has arrived and the city with the bids and awards committee along with the technical working group composed of engineering experts from the city government and private entities are now ironing out minor kinks to kick off the project.

           

The mayor said the city government will fast-track implementation of the project once all the problems have been resolved.

           

The project would cost P63 million and the savings from the Malacanang fund will be used to develop a 1.8 hectare lot previously identified for city employees’ housing as a temporary waste sorting and transfer area.

           

The present temporary transfer area at Irisan will have to be halted to allow the construction of the Philippine Science High School.

       

Domogan also appealed to people not to make things worse and cooperate with authorities in safeguarding the dumpsite and prevent another disaster.

           

This after the discovery that some people were attempting to sabotage the remedial measures by destroying the canal that diverts  water from the trash. 

           

He said one of the dump truck drivers chanced upon an individual destroying the canal in the act but the person managed to get away unidentified.

           

“It seems that there are persons out to disrupt what we are doing but I hope they will realize what they are compromising,” the mayor said.

           

City General Services Officer Romeo Concio confirmed there was no “ponding of water” inside the waste facility but said continuous monitoring was being undertaken to ensure safety.

           

Based on the plan prepared by Engr. III Samuel Salvador of the city engineer’s office, the project would cover the following scope of work: structure excavation; cutting of existing pavement; breaking of existing dilapidated pavement; breaking of boulders; base preparation; construction of box culvert, open canal, canal with gratings and pathwalk; concrete pavement; reinforced concrete retaining wall; septic tank; litter fence; reformation, benching and stabilization of slope; grouting works; final cover; gas vents; grouted riprap; suction pump ; manhole; and hauling of materials.