By Paulo Loreto Lim

Fr. Sulpicio Vincoy, parish priest for Dumaguete City’s Barangay Camanjac, recently echoed sentiment voiced by residents of the community he represents, opposing the construction of a sanitary landfill in nearby Barangay Candau-ay.

Earlier this month, the project received the endorsement of 29 out of 30 city barangays, based on an endorsement letter by the local Liga ng mga Barangay, which is led by Barangay Buñao Captain Lionel Banogon.

Barangay Camanjac was the one neighborhood that did not sign the endorsement.

Last December, residents of the neighborhood cited health concerns associated with the landfill, particularly with its location being 100 meters from a housing project and near the Ocoy River.

Vincoy questioned the structure’s impact on local flooding, claiming different studies, one conducted in the early 2000s and one more recent, provided contrasting conclusions. The former claimed the area was prone to flooding, while the latter said it was “safe and suitable” for a landfill.

Despite the opposition, the city has since submitted an environmental impact assessment to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and already attained an environmental compliance certificate for the project./PLL, WDJ