Bontoc trash information campaign on after court orders dumpsite closed

By Desiree Sokoken

BONTOC, Mountain Province – Following closure of its main dumpsite due to a court order, the local government here has started information campaign on waste management in compliance to Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Writ of Kalikasan as issued by the Court of Appeals last 2012,               

Since June 17, personnel of the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office held information campaign on garbage segregation in schools.

To date, a total of six schools have been covered. These are Bontoc Ili Primary School, Ut-utan Primary School, All Saints’ School of Mountain Province Incorporated, Mountain Province SPED Center, Samoki Elementary School, and Bontoc Central School.

MENRO head Roger Agcapen said the campaign would include all 30 schools in Bontoc.               

According to him, the campaign aims to promote segregation at source in all residences, schools, business establishments, and offices in the municipality.

Following the CA’s order of closure for the Matoytoy-ok dumpsite in 2012, Bontoc had come up with a solid waste management plan.

At present, biodegradable waste collected from the town’s four central barangays go to Eco-Park 1, which is a composting facility being managed jointly by the Bontoc local government and Bontoc Market Vendors’ Association (BOMARVA). Meanwhile, recyclable wastes go to local junk shops, while residual wastes go to a temporary containment area.

Agcapen said long-term plan of the local government is to establish a sustainable materials recovery facility cum eco-park.  This would include composting facility for biodegradables,  waste processing facility for creation of eco-bricks and eco-blocks, and residual waste processing facility.

Recyclables would still go to local junk shops.

Agcapen said some residents still don’t segregate at source even after solid waste management guidelines were issued to all households, business establishments, and offices.

He said with information campaign, he hoped total compliance with the segregation plan.

Mayor Franklin Odsey echoed Agcapen’s hope, reiterating his call on Bontoc people to do their part in addressing the town’s problem with garbage.

Bontoc is enforcing a plastic ban, pursuant to Municipal Ordinance No. 212, S. 2013, known as “An ordinance prohibiting use of plastic bags on dry goods and regulating its utilization on wet goods and prohibiting use of styrofoam in Bontoc and prescribing penalties.”

Business establishments are prohibited from selling and using plastic bags as packaging materials for dry goods.