By MERLINDA A. PEDROSA
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) will hold a committee conference on Thursday, July 23, to address the foul odor coming from the city’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.
Councilor Homer Bais, SP committee on environment and ecology chairperson, said the conference will be attended by representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), City Legal Office, Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (Benro), City Engineer’s Office, and garbage hauler International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialists Inc. (I-SWIMS).
Bais said Barangay Felisa Captain Francisco Hilado had earlier asked Benro to address the foul odor coming from the landfill and the waste collection trucks.
Hilado raised concerns about the persistent foul odor emanating from the sanitary landfill and from waste collection trucks passing through and operating within the barangay.
“Residents have repeatedly expressed concerns regarding the unpleasant odor which affects the comfort, health and well-being of our constituents, particularly those residing near the routes used by garbage trucks,” Hilado said.
He added that some waste collection vehicles have reportedly not been regularly washed or properly sanitized, resulting in foul odors and the possible spillage of leachate along public roads.
Bais said I-SWIMS should respond to the complaints raised by residents and barangay officials.
“We will hear their side so they can explain whether the allegations are true or not,” he said.
Meanwhile, Bais said the construction of the sanitary landfill’s Cell No. 5, which is adjacent to Cell No. 4 in Barangay Felisa, is now 90 percent complete.
The city government earlier allocated a total of P66 million for the two-hectare project.
The DENR – Environmental Management Bureau earlier commended the Felisa sanitary landfill, recognizing it as a model facility, not only in the Negros Island Region, but also across the country.
The sanitary landfill is equipped with complete operational components and has a capacity of 900 metric tons per day.
It is the only landfill in the region operating under a public-private partnership scheme.
Established in 2010, the facility’s Cell No. 4 is currently operating at full capacity.
Once Cell No. 5 is completed, the city will formally close Cell No. 4./MAP, WDJ