Attempts to ‘sabotage’ city ERS trash operations bared

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY – Amidst efforts of the city government and Protech Machinery Corporation to perfect the system that will be a permanent solution to the city’s garbage disposal problem, some groups and individuals are out to sabotage the operation of the P128 million Environmental Recycling system (ERS) machines to divert the blame on the city’s garbage problem to the current set of local officials that will advance their own personal and political interests.

This was underscored by Mr. Luis A. Lu, Jr., assistant vice president of Protech Machinery Corporation, who added incidents indicate some groups and individuals are trying their best to sabotage the operations of the machines so they will not be able to convert the city’s generated biodegradable waste into high grade compost fertilizer.

Prior to the collapse of the portion of the Irisan dumpsite retaining wall that caused the highly publicized trash slide, some individuals reportedly attempted to steal the engine of the ERS machines and removed the belt of the boiler.

However, the supposed saboteurs were not able to successfully stop the operation of the machines as their illegal activities were detected by people living within the area.

When the ERS machines started operating last June, some unscrupulous individuals reportedly put rubbing solution to one of the machines that caused it to stop operation for several days until one of its components was replaced which was worth over P2 million.

Due to these incidents, Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan ordered the fencing of the compound where the ERS machines are installed and operating as well as put up several close-circuit television within the area to monitor activities of the people going in and out of the compound.

According to him, it is unfortunate that some groups and individuals want to derail efforts of the city government in coming out with a lasting solution to the city’s garbage collection and disposal problem and use the same to advance their own personal and political ambitions.

The two ERS machines installed at the vicinity of the Irisan dumpsite are capable of converting a total of 48 tons of the city’s generated biodegradable waste into high grade compost fertilizer which could be used by the local government and farmers in enhancing the growth of flowers in the parks as well as agricultural crops in their gardens.

Aside from installing several CCTV cameras within the ERS compound, the city government is also contemplating on hiring more security guards that will ensure the safety of the machines so these will compost the city’s biodegradable waste beneficial to vegetable farmers once the city government will get permit to sell high grade compost fertilizer.