ILOILO CITY — Some residents in the village of Janipa-an West in Mina, Iloilo are opposing the proposed sanitary landfill project in their village.
In a letter received by Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr. on Thursday, residents expressed their objection to the proposed project, stating that the project would “bring harm more than benefits.”
In their letter, they said the project would bring harmful effects to their village — air and ground water pollution, soil fertility effects and health issues, to name a few.
In response, the governor cited the importance of social acceptance.
“Social acceptance is crucial to the approval of any environmental project. If the public does not want it, it will not push through,” Defensor said in his regular press conference.
Before any project is implemented, the public should be supportive of it and should understand the project, he said, adding that the project’s sustainability will also be considered.
“It will go through a long process,” he said.
A letter from Mina Mayor Rey Grabato, posted in social media, said the proposed sanitary landfill is in compliance with Republic Act No. 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Since the town of Mina is a fifth-class municipality, Grabato said they sought the help of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) because they do not have budget for the establishment of the landfill.
“It was DENR that offered funds for the establishment of (the) sanitary landfill and eco-park project,” he said.
Grabato, however, clarified that, at the moment, these are just plans.
“If this pushes through, this will undergo extensive planning and there will be a feasibility study to make this project solid and sustainable,” he said.
The mayor then appealed to the residents to go to his office to express their sentiments about the project, as well as their suggestions on how to solve their problem on waste management. (PNA)
