Benguet towns to enact solid waste transfer facility
THE THIRTEEN municipalities of the province of Benguet are urged to enact their respective ordinance on the establishment, regulation, and operation of a solid waste transfer facility especially those within the La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba and Tublay area.
"The resolution intends not to dictate but urge towns of the province to enact to prevent what developing towns like La Trinidad experienced," said Board member Nestor Fongwan Jr.
To recall, after the operation of a solid waste transfer facility in Sito Puguis, Lamtang as a staging facility for Baguio City last year, La Trinidad enacted its ordinance of regulating the solid transfer facility for the government unit to have full and direct control and operation while imposing penalties on the violation of its provisions.
Under the Department on Environment and Natural Resources, operators can apply for certifi- cation of non-coverage where they can operate immediately. The local government needs full control on the operation of transfer facility within the municipality.
Under the new municipal law, applicants must comply with the documentary requirements in the establishment of a solid waste transfer station such as a written intent addressed to the mayor with copy furnished to the municipal council.
According to the resolution, encouraging other municipality to enact their ordinance hopes to lessen difficulty in the regulation of solid waste transfer facility which remains a problem. Further, this will effectively respond to the concerns regarding the waste disposal and introduce a lasting solution which boils down to the approval of the resolution.
"In the event that they would have a transfer facility, they will not experience the same of La Trinidad,” Fongwan said explaining there were no regulations on the use of their solid waste facility.
Fongwan added general provisions of Republic Act 9003 cannot cover specific concerns for transfer facility
"We enacted the ordinance strictly saying transfer facility should not contact the ground and should not contaminate the ground water,” Fongwan added.