The Negrenses for Noynoy Movement is calling on the Bacolod citizenry and other sectors to help address the alleged urgent issues on the “reported” serious water contamination of the Brgy. Felisa underground water source “as revealed in media” several years ago, a press release from the group said.

The press release also said that the problem has been complicated with the clamor of the barangay residents over “unhygienic” garbage open dumpsite and question the non-payment by the city government of the purchase price of the Lopez property.

As “reported in the media,” the press release said, the newly constructed P32 million landfill has a limited life span or usefulness for only a few years.

They also questioned that if the city government has not adequately managed the garbage problem and is therefore privatizing it, how can a private agency with little or no experience or capability do a better job of garbage management, the press release said.

The group also said the city and barangays have not yet adequately resolved the mandated garbage segregation and other requirements of R.A. 9003 over the past several years, the press release said.

Meanwhile, Juliana Carbon, Bacolod City Water District general manager, had earlier said that the BACIWA wells in Felisa will not be affected by the sanitary landfill and this is explained in a report submitted by the Environmental Management Bureau.

GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENT

Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia said the sanitary landfill is one of the major requirements to comply with R.A. 9003 and, in the whole Philippines, Bacolod is on top of the 5 percent that have complied out of the 1,500 local government units.

He said there is 1.5 hectares left in the 7-hectare sanitary landfill site and if they put up another one, chances are the site will be good for another 10 years.

As to the P23.8 million Lopez property, Leonardia said the city has already paid the owners P20 million, although it took so long for the titles to be submitted to the city. However, they met recently with the family and had an objective assessment of the situation, he said.

On the other hand, Bids and Awards Committee chairman Goldwyn Nifras said that under R.A. 9184 or the Revised Government Act, the contract with the winning bidder (for garbage privatization) will be renewed every year after an evaluation of its performance has been conducted and another bidding will held.*CGS

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