Environment Secretary Ramon Paje and Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia signed the memorandum of agreement between Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the City of Bacolod for the closure of the city dumpsite and the improvement of its garbage collection from households.

The signing was held at the Bulwagan Ninoy of the Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau in Quezon City.

Paje signed similar agreements with five other local government units, Iloilo City, Butuan City, General Santos City, Legazpi City and Cabanatuan City.

The agreement is pursuant to the Integrated Persistent Organic Pollutants (IPOPs) Project being implemented by the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau, with the support of the Global Environment Facility through the World Bank. The six local government units, were chosen as they are at the forefront in the enforcement of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Paje, said that among the objectives of the IPOPs project is to reduce the release of emissions of dioxins and furans.

He said dioxins and furans are two of what are called ‘Dirty Dozen’ chemicals whose worldwide use and production are strictly covered by the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants signed in 2001, because of their long-term serious impacts on the environment and public health.

He also said that the emissions or “usok (smoke)” created whenever people burn garbage in their backyards, and also from spontaneous combustion in open dumpsites, contain these two chemicals, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, says are likely to be cancer-causing substances to human.

Under the agreement, the six selected LGUs will receive a grant of US$300,000, or about P12.447 million each, and contribute a counterpart fund. In the city of Bacolod, they will use the total funds for the rehabilitation of the open dumpsite after its closure.

Leonardia said the P12.447 million grant is a big thing for Bacolod because it establishes that the city has passed the high standards set by the National Solid Waste Management Board, and, in addition giving it half of the funds that the city will pump into the rehabilitation of the dumpsite.

“The substantial financial grant given us vindicates the strong resolve shown by my administration to proceed with our Sanitary Landfill, despite the strong opposition mounted against it by our political opponents,” he added.

Records show that persons associated with former Rep. Monico Puentevella had vehemently opposed the Sanitary Landfill and had brought their objections and complaints from one forum to another, but to no avail, he added.*

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