Borongan LGU steps up solid waste management

By A. Nicart, PIA Eastern Samar
December 23, 2005

BORONGAN, Eastern Samar  –   With the current dumpsite causing health problems to the people in the vicinity, Borongan local government unit is bent to rehabilitate the existing garbage pile at barangay Camada a few kilometers away of the poblacion.

In an urgent meeting called for by Mayor Fidel Anacta, thru Sangguniang Bayan member Victor Franco, plans to urgently arrest the problem resulting from the stockpile of garbage were discussed.  Reports have reached the mayor’s office of some cases of respiratory infections and gaseous emissions notwithstanding the probable half a million penalty for the LGU for violation of RA 9003, hence the urgent call for all concerned to help in the solution of the problem.

As an immediate alternative, Operation Duso-Basura will be imposed, when garbage workers will have to push all the garbage into the dumpsite utilizing a bulldozer or pay loader from either DPWH or NIA. It has been observed that scavengers who have been frequenting the site have added to the problem because they scratch out the garbage from the site and leave it open into the highway where commuters witness the mess.

Another plan is there to cover the garbage with soil and treat the decaying and hazardous garbage. Likewise, the perimeters of the site will be completely fenced so as to prevent the scavengers from entering the area even as they might be earning from the trash, the most difficult and dangerous way.

Long term plans of the Borongan LGU is to acquire and transfer a dumpsite, away from “civilization” so as to protect them from garbage-borne diseases.  But that is in 2006 yet, Franco quipped.  Some ocular surveys had been conducted for possible dumpsites in as far as sitio Balakdas, an upstream barangay however with access road.

The current site will we converted into an eco-tourism site as observed in other model cities and provinces.  Sooner local artists will be invited to paint on the walls of the dumpsite.

Early next year, some resource speakers from UP Los Baños will be expected to share some of their knowledge on how to properly manage solid wastes.