Bontoc dumpsite closure set amid protests from Kalinga

BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Newly installed Mayor Franklin Odsey ordered placing of signs around this capital town informing the public that the controversial Caluttit dump site will be closed by August 22, in accordance with the order of the Court of Appeals.

The dumpsite had been the object of protests and a court case filed by Kalinga officials and environmentalists against the province saying waste from the dumpsite flowed down the Chico River to their province.

On his first day of office on July 1, Odsey issued an executive order reorganizing the Municipal Ecological Solid Waste Management Board to be composed of municipal and barangay officials, representatives from departments of Natural Resources, Science and Technology, Education, public and private schools, business sector, and the youth.

This multi-sectoral group was tasked to come up with short- and long-term solutions to the garbage problem of  Bontoc. 

During its first meeting, sectoral representatives gave their commitment to help solve the garbage problem.

They identified three major tasks for the next few weeks: information education campaigns to be conducted in the barangays, identification of materials recovery facilities (MRFs), and procurement of garbage shredder for residual wastes.

The municipal government is closely working with the DENR-Environmental Management Board now that a consultant from the environment body is holding office at the municipal hall specifically to guide the LGU in finding solutions to its garbage woes. 

In his inaugural speech on June 28, Odsey said closing the dump site will not entirely solve the garbage problem of Bontoc.

He reminded his constituents that it would do well to remember the basics of waste management: Reduce, Re-use, Recyle.

He spelled out alternative short-term solutions drastically reducing the volume of garbage produced.

Each household, business establishment, or school shall be required to have its own compost pit for biodegradables. Biodegradables account for more than 50% of the garbage collected. 

He also added that the LGU will revive its OplanPerasaBasura wherein schools children and their teachers collect recyclables and sell them to junk shops.

The school that collects the biggest volume of recyclables is given a considerable cash prize by the municipal government. The proceeds of the sale plus the cash prize help augment the meager budgets of the schools.

This project was first implemented during Odsey’s first term as mayor in 2007-2010.

  

To reduce the volume of waste plastics, Odsey made an example of the Guina-ang Elementary School which is using plastic bottles filled with cut plastic bags and wrappers in lieu of hollow blocks in the construction of its library.

Many households are already supporting this project by donating plastic bottles-cum-hollow blocks to the library.

The mayor vowed financial and technical support to this project as well as to replicate it in all barangays of the town.

Odsey was quoted as saying, “The garbage problem of our town is the problem of everyone, so we need each one to do his part. If we solve this, it will only be because all the sectors of the community will help in solving it.”