Mt. Sto Tomas site pushed to solve Baguio garbage problem

BAGUIO CITY -- The local government is now focusing on its waste management program to address the city’s worsening garbage problem and bared plans to set up an Integrated Solid Waste Management System (ISWMS) at the vicinity of Mt. Sto Tomas.

During a recent press conference, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said the city government will complete consultations with residents and will address their concerns as long as these are legitimate.

He also vowed to answer the concern raised by some residents in the proposed ISWMS area which will cover 50 hectares.

The city hauls 127 tons out of the 360-ton waste output of the city daily requiring a hefty sum of more or less P100 million a year.

From the 130 hectares actually needed at Mt.Santo Tomas, only 50 hectares will be utilized to house the ISWMS.

The facility will include several waste management strategies intended for long-term management of the city’s wastes among which a waste-to-energy technology, a central material recovery facility, anaerobic digester and health care waste treatment facility and an engineered sanitary landfill if needed and the Environmental Recycling System (ERS) machines.

Domogan said that the relocation survey of the 50 hectares has been completed and the city is now evaluating three options for road constructions for easy access to the site.

The City Solid Waste Management Board (CSWMB) is also finalizing the terms of reference (TOR) for a design-and-build scheme for the construction of an ESL.

The final draft of the TOR has been submitted last Dec. 18 and approved for review by the mayor as chair of the CSWMB.

The feasibility study on the ISWMS is still being conducted by the technical working group co-chaired by city planning and development officer Evelyn Cayat and general services officer Romeo Concio.