After Kalinga files Kalikasan case: Mt Prov execs say Chico River pollution control on

By Gina Dizon

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Mountain Province officials assured their Kalinga counterparts last week they were doing measures to stop pollution of the Chico River after the latter sued them over the issue.    

           

“Efforts have already been initiated  to stop  dumping of  waste flowing to the Chico River, Bontoc Mayor  PascualSacgaca said following  the  writ of kalikasan filed by Kalinga  Anti-Pollution  Action  Group  (KAPAG) at the Court of Appeals  a week ago.

This, aside from support that the Mountain Province local government unit through Gov. Leonard Mayaen committed in opening access road to the dumpsite, Sacgaca said. 

A 2-km access road is needed to be constructed to reach the identified dump site.

Sacgaca said the LGU is sourcing funds for construction of the access road.

Sacgaca said the local government unit of Bontoc identified a 3- hectare dumpsite within the environs of Mt Faliling at Bontoc Ili, after  searching from lot owners. 

Accumulated budget for the proposed dumpsite has been approved by the said LGU for fiscal years 2011 and 2012. 

Now on price negotiation, the tax-declared lot to a private individual shall immediately serve the waste disposal needs of the people of the capital town of Poblacion Bontoc and immediate barangays.

A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) shall also be constructed in each of the total 16 barangays in this capital town with financial support from the LGU, Sacgaca added.

Now on his third year of service, Sacgaca considers the opening of a Bontocdumpsite  his most prioritized project when he assumed office in July 2010.

The  dumping of  waste  at  Caluttit  located  above  the  Chico river has been a major concern  in the past years and more  pronounced  in the present times with the  increase of  business and population.

In a separate interview, former Bontoc mayor Franklin Odsey said a dumpsite has been identified in 2008-09 but protested by some constituents.  Odsey was the mayor of the town from 2007 to 2010.