Mayor stops waste station due to residents’ opposition

BY Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the proposed waste transfer station at Camp 7 here will not push through due to opposition of residents, saying it was the contractor and not the city government that pinpointed the site.

The mayor said it was the GC Flores Construction that identified its own location at Camp 7 Kennon Road to comply with the city government’s requirement to provide its own waste transfer site, being the winning bidder for the city’s new waste hauling contract.

The provision of the transfer site was among requirements specified in terms of reference in bidding for city’s garbage hauling service. 

To qualify the site, the city also requires the contractor to submit an affidavit of no objection by the owners of the adjoining properties, endorsement from the barangay and a certification of non-coverage from the EMB.

Company owner Gamaliel Flores proposed his own property at Camp 7 along with a certification issued by Camp 7 punong barangay Constancio Danao that there was no objection to utilize the area for said purpose.

 However, Camp 7 residents expressed opposition to the use of Flores’ lot or any other lot in their barangay as waste transfer station due to health considerations.

The residents wrote the Environment Management Board Cordillera to express their objection and to dispute the certification issued by Danao saying they were not consulted by the barangay head.

In view of the opposition, the mayor said the company will not be allowed to take over the hauling service until it finds a suitable site.

The mayor said Flores assured he will look for another area suitable for the purpose and while this is being worked out, the city will continue to employ the services of the present hauler, M. A. Camilo Freight Services.

As this developed, the city council on Monday agreed to summon Flores along with representatives from the general services office, the city mayor’s office and the affected Camp 7 residents for a dialogue in its regular session on Dec. 15.

This is to clarify the issue surrounding the planned set up of the transfer station at Camp 7.