Old dump’s fire measures assured

IMUS CITY, Cavite – The local government has assured that measures are in place to prevent another rubbish fire and thick smoke at the old dump site in Barangay Pasong Buaya I. Thousands of residents in parts of Pasong Buaya and neighboring Barangay Anabu were affected by the pungent smoke from burning trash at the dump that went on fire for at least two days, starting last Tuesday. The dump had been closed by the local government in late December because it could no longer accommodate the garbage from the city’s 97 barangays. It was the only garbage area in the city that had been operating for many years. Mayor Emmanuel Leonardo Maliksi reported that the dumpsite fire had been checked and placed under control since Day 1 and was gradually put off in the following day with the help of the firemen from the City Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) and personnel the Environment and Natural Resources, Disaster and Risk Management, Engineering and barangay offices. At the Unida Christian Colleges in Anabu I-F, school officials were forced to suspend classes on Tuesday because of the smoke. The smoke reached as far as Yazaki, a Japanese manufacturing firm, on Aguinaldo Highway in Barangay Anabu I-A. Yazaki is deemed as the biggest company in the city. In his Facebook, Maliksi said that the City Health officers and personnel have made the rounds at the affected areas and checked the safety and health of residents. A report said a portion of the dump was still being used as a temporary holding area before the trash is brought to the Montalban landfill. (Anthony Giron)