DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental — The provincial head of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Negros Oriental on Thursday stressed the need for a sanitary landfill to address the garbage problem in the provincial capital.
Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PENRO) Charlie Fabre said the city government of Dumaguete is awaiting the report of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) on whether the proposed sanitary landfill site in Barangay Candauay is suitable or not.
Fabre said the provincial government, the city government and the PENRO must agree on a sanitary landfill site as a solution to the problem amid the growing problem of garbage disposal.
He added the city government has received previous notices in the past for the closure of the existing open dumpsite in Candauay as it is already outlawed.
Fabre further said reduction of waste is not a permanent solution and it would only work temporarily as “we have already developed into a tourism destination.”
Fabre said he has not yet received a copy of the report from MGB regarding the proposed sanitary landfill site in Candauay.
The MGB had conducted an inspection last January at the proposed site to determine whether existing conditions would allow for the sanitary landfill to be established in that area.
As to the opposition raised by some quarters on the proposed site for a number of reasons, such as being near a housing project, Fabre pointed out that if “we will listen to all concerned, then there will be no sanitary landfill.”
The sanitary landfill must be established provided the proposed site will meet the minimum standards, he said.
The sanitary landfill is for “economic progress and economic safety” of all, he added. (PNA)
