Joan Nathaniel Gerangaya, City Community Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said yesterday that a case should be filed against the city government of Bacolod for allowing the dumping of non-segregated garbage at its dumpsite in Brgy. Felisa.

Under Republic Ac 9003, or the Solid Waste Management Act of 2001, local government units should have a sanitary landfill instead of an open dumpsite and segregation and collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay level, specifically for biodegradable, compostable and reusable wastes.

The law also states that the collection of non-recyclable materials and special wastes shall be the responsibility of the municipality or city.

Gerangaya said that if a case is pursued against the city government of Bacolod, the national office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Office will undertake it on the recommendation of the Solid Waste Management Board.

However, before the SWMB can recommend the filing of the case, the Environmental Management Bureau needs to inspect the dumpsite, he said.

Asked for his reaction, Bacolod Mayor Monico Puentevella said the city government is having a problem establishing the sanitary landfill since the Commission on Audit disapproved the purchase of the land where the dumpsite is located.

Puentevella claimed that the previous administration paid P20 million for the purchase of the land without any deed of sale or paper to show ownership, which caused the World Bank to deny the application of the city government for a grant to establish the sanitary land fill.

However, former City Legal Officer Joselito Bayatan denied that there was no deed of sale and added that the continuous use of the land for the sanitary landfill is already proof that the Bacolod City government owns it.

‘MISMANAGEMENT'

Bayatan also said that when former Mayor, now Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia, purchased the lot, it was intended for a sanitary landfill but the present administration mismanaged it and converted it into an open dumpsite.

He said the mismanagement of the dumpsite could have been the reason why the World Bank denied the grant being requested by the city government.

Meanwhile, Puentevella said he will meet with Mayor Andrew Montelibano of Murcia on Friday to discuss the c omplaints raised by 204 residents of Purok Tumpok, Blumentritt of the town against the smoke from the dumpsite of Bacolod City in Brgy. Felisa and the stench it is producing.

Earlier, Montelibano had 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.*APN

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