The Environment Management Bureau-Cordillera continues to encourage local government units to build their engineered sanitary landfills.
EMB-CAR Director Ma. Victoria Abrera said the agency has been assisting LGUs in their solid waste management plans, where it encourages the building of ESLs.
Based from EMB-CAR data, there are nine ESLs operated by LGUs in the region namely Calanasan, Pudtol, and Luna in Apayao; La Trinidad, Benguet; Alfonso Lista and Lamut in Ifugao; Tabuk City and Rizal in Kalinga; and Besao, Mountain Province.
There are also ESLs operated by private companies such as the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company in Mankayan and Philex Mining Corporation in Tuba, both in Benguet.
Five ESLs are ongoing constructions in Bucay, Abra; Flora, Apayao; Aguinaldo, Ifugao; Mayoyao, Ifugao; and Bontoc, Mountain Province.
Abrera said Baguio remains to have the highest volume of residual wastes, which is a huge challenge to an LGU that does not have its ESL.
“We assist our LGUs in their solid waste and management plans and even the technical assistance to build a sanitary landfill, however funding remains the challenge for most LGUs,” Abrera said.
The EMB-CAR lauded the efforts of Besao in building its ESL, which will soon be operational this year.
Abrera said despite the LGU being a fifth-class municipality, it was able to invest its minimum resources to prioritize building an ESL in 2019 in Barangay Kin-iway.
Abrera said almost all LGUs have submitted their solid waste management plans to the EMB-CAR, which it submitted to the National Solid Waste Management Commission for approval. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 26, 2024
