3 areas for new landfill identified

THE Davao City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) along with the Davao City Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) identified three possible areas where the new landfill will be placed.

CPDO officer-in-charge Ivan Cortez, in an interview yesterday, said the city has narrowed its option to three private-owned lots, two of which are located near the current landfill in New Carmen, Tugbok, one 11 hectares and another nine hectares, and a 17-hectare lot located in Bunawan.

“[Getting a new lot] will still depend on our negotiations with the land owners,” Cortez said, adding that the main problem is the limited number of city-owned lots since most of the lots in Davao are already privately owned.

He said they have inspected many lots but some are not suitable.

“Another requirement for the lot is that it should be (geologically) depressed as against elevated,” he said.

Cortez said that this is to lessen the cost for land development.

“It is advantageous to have it in sloped area so that the trash will just fall, because if it is flat, the trash will just pile up in mountains,” he said in the vernacular.

Cortez said the function of the CPDO is to find a parcel of land but this also must be approved by Cenro and the DENR.

He said they were directed to find a lot for the landfill as soon as possible.

Cortez added once they will determine which area is fit for a landfill through

their final inspection, they will proceed with the negotiation for fair market value. A legislative authority to sign for a deed of sale will be sought from the 18th Davao City Council.

He added that he cannot yet determine if the purchase of land will be pushed this year or next year.

The 18th Davao City Council last Tuesday approved the budget for the purchase of land for the landfill incorporated in the Supplemental Budget 2.

Meanwhile, Cortez added that that the waste collection of the city has increased through the years, and with the current rate of 500-800 tons daily, the city might need a new landfill every five to six years.

Cortez said that the city’s waste problem is still a huge challenge. He added that this can only be addressed through the cooperation of the residents in segregating and recycling.