GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite – The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here is eyeing to put up a biogas system to address the city’s solid waste problem, lessen the bulk of garbage collection and waste collected by garbage collectors daily.
Mayor Antonio Ferrer and CENRO department head Dr. Renato Escurel on Tuesday said that plans are underway to build the model biogas plant, next to the city’s Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) Composting Center in the nearby GenTri Public Market in Barangay Sampalukan here.
Escurel said that pending the feasibility study on the proposed project, the city government estimates around half ton, or 500 kilograms of solid waste will be processed to produce biogas, pushing for alternative energy source and cost-saving measure for the city.
CENRO and city government planners said the project is now on the drawing board, where an estimated PHP 1.5 to 1.8-million fund allocation is needed to finance the biogas plant project.
“Itong proposed biogas plant po na itatayo ay siyang magiging model biogas plant para sa lokalidad (this proposed biogas plant to be put up will serve as model biogas for the locality),” Escurel said.
According to Dr. Escurel, the proposed plant on a 500-square meter site could burn processed wastes for about five hours daily
“Kapag ito po ay naitayo, malaking kabawasan po sa kokolentahing basura ang mga garbage collector natin, may separate collector po tayo na kukuha ng mga green waste at food waste in every Barangay here sa city proper (If we could establish this plant, this would lessen the collected garbage from our city garbage collectors, and we also have a separate collector for the green waste and food waste in every village in the city proper),” Escurel added.
Since May 18 this year, the CENRO has strictly enforced the city ordinance on the the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy to instill discipline among city folks.
The CENRO has been urging the public to segregate their respective garbage in their backyards so that the garbage collectors can easily collect them following the garbage trucks pick schedules and routes in the areas.
They are also monitoring garbage segregation methods by residents and educate them, especially on wastes that are recyclcables, biodegradable and non-biodegradable.
Villagers are also enjoined to comply with the submission of their Environment Compliance Audit (ECA) to CENRO. Only six of the 33 city barangays had reportedly complied with the order.
“We impose this ho, para hindi ho nakakalat sa kalye ang mga basura natin, at manatiling kaaya-aya ang ating kapaligiran (We impose this to avoid the garbage to be strewn on streets, and maintain the cleanliness of the city environs),” Escurel stressed.
He praised the villages and communities that have complied with the city ordinance so far, and for establishing their own MRF center like Barangay Navarro in Lancaster City district.
The city government is strictly implementing the Solid Waste Management Code of 2013 through an ordinance authored by Councilor Kerby Salazar, which penalizes any erring person the fine of PHP 500 for the first offense, PHP 1,000 for second offense; and PHP 2,000 for the 3rd offense or imprisonment of not less than 5 days but not more than 30 days.
The ordinance also covered companies or business establishments on the penalty of PHP 3,000 for the 1st offense; PHP 5,000 for the 2nd offense; and PHP 10,000 for the 3rd offense and imprisonment. (Dennis Abrina/PNA)
