Mayor Mauricio Domogan said Wednesday the proposed engineered sanitary landfill (ESL) project in Itogon and another possible site in Sablan, both in Benguet are long-term solutions to the garbage disposal problem of Baguio.

The mayor told reporters they are setting a meeting with Benguet officials for the signing of a joint manifesto endorsing the proposed landfill project in Ampucao, Itogon.

The supposed meeting came after Domogan said Itogon Mayor Oscar Camantiles approached him over the weekend informing him that the Itogon government is willing to help in finding solutions to the garbage problem.

The city mayor said he thought Camantiles would not support the Ampucao project.

The meeting among the officials was initially set Tuesday but it was rescheduled due to prior appointments.

The proposed project costs US$42 million.

One of the main concerns besetting the South Korea-based company tapped to do the project is the acquisition of the free prior and informed consent (FPIC) of affected indigenous peoples and indigenous cultural communities.

Ampucao officials led by Punong Barangay Eddie Amuasen said in a recent press conference said they are willing to help agencies initiate public hearings and conduct a FPIC.

Domogan meanwhile, told reporters that a team from Baguio inspected a 25-hectare lot between Sablan and Burgos, La Union, which is also a potential site for ESL.

He added he was informed that the La Trinidad local government is eyeing to complete in two months a disposal site where Baguio can dump its residual wastes for at least six months to a year.

Possible solutions to the garbage problem in Baguio were brought to the fore anew in wake of the resurging problems on garbage collection from the various barangays.

Tons of garbage in the barangays were not collected on time after disgruntled residents near the Irisan Lime Kiln at Purok 20 protested the use of the area as temporary staging and transfer area due to environment and health hazards.