Mayor Andrew Montelibano said yesterday that he has to defend his people and is acting on the complaints raised by 204 residents of Purok Tumpok, Blumentritt against the smoke from the dumpsite of Bacolod City in Brgy. Felisa and the stench it is producing.

Earlier, Murcia residents had filed a complaint before the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod, claiming that the smoke from the dumpsite has caused many of their children to become ill and had to be taken to the hospital.

They also said that some experienced difficulty in breathing.

Montelibano said he has not received any formal complaints from the residents of Purok Tumpok yet, but the issue should still be addressed immediately instead of waiting for it to get worse.

He said that while the Murcia town government has no authority over the dumpsite that is the property of Bacolod, he hopes that the city government can, at least, keep it clean to avoid the spread of diseases.

Montelibano added that he has a meeting with Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella after the Panaad sa Negros Festival so they could resolve the issue without resorting to legal skirmishes.

At a public hearing yesterday conducted by Councilor Carlos Jose Lopez, vice chairman of the SP Committee on Environment, the Murcia residents said there are about 1,000 residents in their area who are affected by the smoke from the dumpsite.

Lopez said City Environment Officer Max Sillo and executive assistant Ma. Fe Tresfuentes informed them that they have already dumped soil to stop the burning of waste, or combustion caused by methane gas, that is further heightened by the dry weather.

Tresfuentes, who is also a resident of Felisa, noted that this is the fourth time the dumpsite has burned since its operation in 2005, and it happens every March.*APN

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