Bataan town mayor assuages fear of residents on sanitary landfill

SAMAL, Bataan- Mayor Gene dela Fuente assuaged the fear of her constituents on the alleged ill-effects of the proposed sanitary landfill undergoing fencing and ground works in an agricultural area in this town. “Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 where our sanitary landfill project is anchored protects the environment and people,” the two termer lady mayor said.

She asked her constituents to trust her. “Bilang ina ng bayan, kabutihan ng mamamayan ang nasa isip ko. Mahalaga ang tulungan, pagmamalasakit ng bawat isa para sa pagsulong ng Samal. Magandang programa itong sanitary landfill para masolusyunan ang problema sa basura kaya sama-sama na tayo,” the mayor appealed.

Under the scheme, dela Fuente said only residual waste will be hauled off to the dumpsite after proper segregation in every barangay. Recyclables can be sold to junkshops while biodegradables can be turned into compost for use as fertilizers. She said that each of the 14 barangay will have a Material Recycling Facility.

“Wala ng katas ang residual waste na dadalhin sa landfill at kung meron man, may sistema ng pagsasala kaya wala iyong sinasabing contamination sa mga batis at ilog o groundwater,” she said.The mayor said the nearby creeks will be widened and deepened to absorb more water.

Teody Guinto feared that about 50 hectares of rice lands tilled by more than 80 farmers will be affected.“Isang dangkal lang palayan na at creek na kinukuhanan ng patubig kaya parang kamatayan sa mga magsasaka kung sa sityo Aplo ilalagay ang sanitary landfill. At isa pa, flood-prone ang lugar na ito,” he said.

Guinto said they are not against the sanitary landfill project but in opposition only to the location.

He and former municipal councilor Rafael Guinto proposed that the landfill be placed at the present open dumpsite of the town located at an upland sityo in San Juan.

“Mayora, OK na itong open dumpsite na walang mapipinsalang marami. Bakurin lang ito at kontento na kami rito bilang sanitary landfill. Hwag ‘yong sa malapit sa kabukiran at kabahayan,” the former councilor said.