By CATHERINE CALUYA
www.nordis.net

GARBAGE EVERYWHERE. Piled up garbage can be found around the city since CEPMO holds waste collection two weeks ago

BAGUIO CITY — Alarmed by the already 22,000 tons of uncollected garbage in the city since the City Environment and Parks Office (CEPMO) ordered Baguio barangay officials to hold their wastes two weeks ago, acting City Mayor Daniel Fariñas asked the city council to come up with a solution to the garbage problem.
Fariñas reiterated the need for an urgent solution to garbage disposal to maintain the city’s image as tourism destination and education center of the north. He also reminded Baguio residents on the importance of proper solid waste management.

“Maaari pang madagdagan ang basura habang tumatagal. Being the presiding officer of the city council, we can correct decision seemingly not popular,” said Fariñas. CEPMO said there is no assured date yet when to resume the hauling.

During their Monday session, members of the City Council discussed the proposed PhP 36 million additional hauling cost until the end of the year.

Some councilors however expressed dismay on the failure of those appointed who even promised earlier to come up with concrete actions, to solve the garbage crisis.

Meanwhile, some members of the Council seek the pursuance of the Engineered Sanitary Landfill (ESL) in Sto.Thomas in Tuba and Itogon in Benguet as well as the Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Irisan dump site.

However, Fariñas further explained that the city urgently needs immediate solution. “Huwag na tayong magmatigasan, gastuhan ang dapat gastuhan. Kung kinakailangang utangin ang tipping fee para maalis lang ang mga basura sa syudad ay dapat gawin,” he said.

Another proposed solution
Meanwhile, the Environ Cycle, a U.S based Filipino-American owned Limited Liability Company (LLC), proposed to work with Baguio city to adopt multiple solutions by utilizing the latest proven green technologies available today.

“We would like to eliminate your millions of tons of waste as well as to reduce your cost in spending million for garbage disposal,” said Michael Smith, the International Green Energy consultant.

He also explained that the core market focus of their company in the renewable energy market place is waste to energy (WTE) projects that utilize municipal solid waste (MSW) as the principal fuel source and to recover the energy for sale in the form of electricity.

Introducing several eco-friendly technologies which provide outstanding engineered solutions for example, the mobile gasification machine can recycle one ton per hour and can generate one megawatt unit of electricity.

However, when asked how much will be the budget for this, Smith cannot specify the exact amount unless they would be allowed to conduct feasibility study.But Smith told the council that in order to purchase a unit of mobile machine, there must be at least $ 2 M prepared funds.

Smith challenged the body, “We will turn your landfill into a land bank. You reduce your waste and gain profit at the same time”.

The council passed a resolution authored by Councilor Richard Cariño which directs CEPMO to conduct of a feasibility study on the proposed Environ Cycle. # nordis.net