By CESAR JOLITO III
The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) has urged the Bacolod City government to prioritize resolving its own waste management concerns before allowing other local government units to dispose of their residual waste at the city’s sanitary landfill.
In a statement, NICE expressed concern over the Bacolod City Solid Waste Management Board’s approval of Victorias City’s request to use the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa for residual waste disposal, pending approval by the Bacolod council.
“Bacolod cannot become the answer to another city’s waste problem while its own waste crisis remains unresolved,” the group said, urging city officials to prioritize policies that safeguard the environment and protect the interests of both present and future generations.
While acknowledging that interlocal government cooperation is encouraged under Philippine law, the environmental group stressed that such partnerships should not come at the expense of Bacolod’s environmental sustainability and the welfare of its residents.
According to NICE, the city continues to face significant waste management challenges, making it questionable whether the landfill can accommodate additional waste from neighboring localities.
The group also cited complaints from residents of Barangay Felisa regarding persistent foul odors allegedly coming from the sanitary landfill, saying these have affected the community’s health, sanitation and overall quality of life.
NICE emphasized that Bacolod should first invest in strengthening its own waste management system before assuming the responsibility of handling another city’s residual waste.
The organization called on the Bacolod council to carefully evaluate the long-term environmental, social and economic impacts of the proposal before making a final decision.
It further underscored that every local government unit has the responsibility to properly manage the waste it generates and pursue sustainable solutions that reduce dependence on landfills./CCJ, WDJ