By Liza Agoot/PNA
BAGUIO CITY — The local government of Baguio and the state-owned Philippine National Oil Company–Renewables Corporation (PNOC-RC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the conduct of a feasibility study to identify a waste-to-energy technology, which will solve the garbage disposal problems of the city and the La Trinidad-Itogon-Sablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) area.
“We just signed the agreement with PNOC and we will work closely with the EMB (Environment Management Bureau) on this,” Mayor Mauricio Domogan said during the weekly press forum on Wednesday.
The MOU was signed by Domogan and PNOC-RC president and chief executive officer John Arenas during simple rites at the Mayor’s Office.
The five-year agreement intends to explore ways in managing solid wastes through a “waste-to-energy” project for Baguio, which the city intends to share to the BLISTT local governments and residents.
Under the agreement, the PNOC-RC will look for an applicable technology that can be set up on the 29.11-hectare private property of the Benguet Corporation (BC) in Antamok, Itogon, Benguet, which was ceded to the city government.
In a press release issued by the city information office, Arenas assured Domogan that the PNOC-RC will come out with the results of the feasibility study on whether or not the proposed waste-to-energy project at the said site will benefit the people living in the BLISTT communities.
If proven to be applicable and effective, it will not only solve the city and the BLISTT’s areas garbage disposal problem, but will also support the national government’s goal to generate additional electric power for the country.
The MOU was entered into by the city government alone but the city committed to allow the BLISTT local government units (LGUs) to use the proposed integrated waste disposal facility that will cater to their garbage disposal needs.
The city hopes that the positive result of the study will be an additional income to convince the five towns, especially Itogon, to allow the conversion of the area into a waste disposal facility.
Domogan repeatedly talked about the city’s priority concern to identify a permanent site for its solid waste disposal facility to put an end to the hauling of the city’s residual waste, which eats up a huge portion of the local government’s resources for the hauling cost and the tipping fees.
He said the major hindrance encountered by the local government in coming up with a permanent solution to its solid waste disposal problem is the absence of an area for its waste facility.
Based on city estimates, Baguio produces around 402 tons of garbage daily.
