Folks question 50 has. Sto. Tomas trash site
>> Monday, January 23, 2023
Urdaneta ESL eyed for Baguio’s garbage
BAGUIO CITY – Residents
at the surveyed a 50-hectare area within the Sto. Tomas Proper for construction
of the city’s centralized materials recovery facility (MRF) questioned the
project due to perceived pollution it will being among others.
However, survey papers are still pending before the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources due to issues raised by residents in the area, according to the city government’s General Services Office.
With the demand for cost reduction on waste management, the City Government of Baguio is anticipating resumption of operations of the Urdaneta engineered sanitary landfill after its rehabilitation is completed.
In a forum with the Baguio City Council Jan. 16, City GSO chief Eugene Buyucan said the city government will go back to hauling the city’s residual waste to the Urdaneta ESL once the cease and desist order by the Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) is lifted.
After the Urdaneta ESL was ordered closed in 2021 by DENR-EMB due to several violations, the city government partnered with Metro Clark Waste Management for the disposal of the city’s garbage to the company’s ESL located in Clark Special Economic Zone, Capas, Tarlac.
Buyucan said the city government’s total annual cost in utilizing the Metro Clark ESL is P141,335,300 while the estimated total annual cost should the city transfer back to Urdaneta ESL is P96,188,450 with a difference of P45,146,850.
With an actual budget for 2023 in the amount of P130 million for hauling of the city’s garbage to the sanitary landfill, the city government will save around P33.8 million once it goes back to using the Urdaneta landfill.
The transfer to Urdaneta ESL is one of the waste management initiatives by the General Services Office this 2023.
These initiatives were presented to the city council during forum Jan. 16 in response to the city council’s request for updates on the plans and programs of the office in reducing expenses related to waste management.
According to Buyucan, the city government generated savings worth P19 million in 2022 from the sale of recyclable essegregated from solid waste.
He added the proposed construction of a centralized mechanized materials recovery facility (MRF) in the city will also help reduce the amount of garbage hauled out by Baguio, reducing the city’s expenses on waste management with projected total savings of P13 million per year.
Buyucan said the city government will soon conduct a feasibility study for privatization and one-time collection of the city’s garbage from source to landfill.
The goal of the study is to find out if the privatization of the city’s solid waste management is more viable and efficient than the current system.
In an earlier interview, Buyucan said the proposal may result in cost reduction and may bring about increased efficiency.
The GSO chief said their office had surveyed a 50-hectare area within the Sto. Tomas Proper for construction of the city’s centralized MRF, however, survey papers are still pending before the DENR due to the concerns raised by residents at the site.
Councilor Michael Lawana cited need to acquire the said lot urgently, so the city government can start construction of said facility.
He added construction of the city’s own solid waste management plant will help solve the city’s problems on the disposal of solid waste and will serve as the city’s safety net in case nearby ESLs shut down.
Councilor Jose Molintas broached the idea of pursuing initiatives promoting the concept of “zero waste” in the communities.
Joining the forum via teleconference, City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Pena cited prospect of putting up waste-to-energy plant for the city first introduced in 2021 by the executive department. – With a report from Jordan Habbiling
However, survey papers are still pending before the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources due to issues raised by residents in the area, according to the city government’s General Services Office.
With the demand for cost reduction on waste management, the City Government of Baguio is anticipating resumption of operations of the Urdaneta engineered sanitary landfill after its rehabilitation is completed.
In a forum with the Baguio City Council Jan. 16, City GSO chief Eugene Buyucan said the city government will go back to hauling the city’s residual waste to the Urdaneta ESL once the cease and desist order by the Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) is lifted.
After the Urdaneta ESL was ordered closed in 2021 by DENR-EMB due to several violations, the city government partnered with Metro Clark Waste Management for the disposal of the city’s garbage to the company’s ESL located in Clark Special Economic Zone, Capas, Tarlac.
Buyucan said the city government’s total annual cost in utilizing the Metro Clark ESL is P141,335,300 while the estimated total annual cost should the city transfer back to Urdaneta ESL is P96,188,450 with a difference of P45,146,850.
With an actual budget for 2023 in the amount of P130 million for hauling of the city’s garbage to the sanitary landfill, the city government will save around P33.8 million once it goes back to using the Urdaneta landfill.
The transfer to Urdaneta ESL is one of the waste management initiatives by the General Services Office this 2023.
These initiatives were presented to the city council during forum Jan. 16 in response to the city council’s request for updates on the plans and programs of the office in reducing expenses related to waste management.
According to Buyucan, the city government generated savings worth P19 million in 2022 from the sale of recyclable essegregated from solid waste.
He added the proposed construction of a centralized mechanized materials recovery facility (MRF) in the city will also help reduce the amount of garbage hauled out by Baguio, reducing the city’s expenses on waste management with projected total savings of P13 million per year.
Buyucan said the city government will soon conduct a feasibility study for privatization and one-time collection of the city’s garbage from source to landfill.
The goal of the study is to find out if the privatization of the city’s solid waste management is more viable and efficient than the current system.
In an earlier interview, Buyucan said the proposal may result in cost reduction and may bring about increased efficiency.
The GSO chief said their office had surveyed a 50-hectare area within the Sto. Tomas Proper for construction of the city’s centralized MRF, however, survey papers are still pending before the DENR due to the concerns raised by residents at the site.
Councilor Michael Lawana cited need to acquire the said lot urgently, so the city government can start construction of said facility.
He added construction of the city’s own solid waste management plant will help solve the city’s problems on the disposal of solid waste and will serve as the city’s safety net in case nearby ESLs shut down.
Councilor Jose Molintas broached the idea of pursuing initiatives promoting the concept of “zero waste” in the communities.
Joining the forum via teleconference, City Administrator Bonifacio Dela Pena cited prospect of putting up waste-to-energy plant for the city first introduced in 2021 by the executive department. – With a report from Jordan Habbiling
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