Sanitary landfill in Consolacion to open this week

CEBU, Philippines - The 6.9-hectare private sanitary landfill in barangay Polog, Consolacion town can start operating anytime this week after the municipal council ratified the memorandum of agreement signed between the municipality and Asian EnergySystems Corporation, the Renewable Energy Company.

The municipal council approved the proposed resolution introduced by Councilor Julius Alegado during last Saturday's special session called by Mayor Teresa Alegado to discuss the issue.

Six members of the Municipal Council who voted in favor of the proposal included Councilors Julius Alegado, Alfred Francis Ouano, Nilo Ferraren, Bienvenido Ermac, Brando Cuizon and Marilou Casul, president of the Association of Barangay Councils.

Councilor Nicole Villo opposed the approval of the resolution on the ground of its possible effects to the town's environment when garbage arrives from other places.

Councilor Analee Gungob abstained while Councilor Iluminado Alin and SK federation president Vito Villo were absent.

The MOA was signed by Mayor Alegado and Asian EnergySystems Corporation president Cipriano Abdon last December.

The Consolacion Sanitary Landfill, Methane Recovery, and the Power Generation Facility are located in barangay Polog.

The approved resolution said the authority has already been granted to the mayor by virtue of Resolution No. 138, series of 2009.

Alegado had entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with Asian EnergrySystems Corporation subject however to the ratification and approval by the municipal council.

The MOA had thoroughly been discussed by the different committees of the municipal council.

The resolution further said there is a necessity to comply with Republic Act 9003 in establishing a sanitary landfill for the town.

The ratification and approval of the Memorandum of Agreement entered and executed by and between the mayor and AEC is the solution for the establishment of sanitary landfill in accordance with RA 9003.

Although there are matters that had not been covered up in the MOA which need to be supplemented, town officials said these are covered up in the Addendum Memorandum of Agreement.

The Management of Asian EnergSystems Corporation, the Renewable Energy Company, said the facility in Consolacion town will comply with the provision of Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

The agreement states that the town will utilize the facility for all the garbage and other solid wastes, except hazardous and toxic wastes.

The company will accommodate garbage from adjoining towns and cities as well as private entities, within the province of Cebu.

The state-of-the art sanitary landfill in Consolacion, the first in Cebu, is seen to solve for a significant period of time the garbage problem of Metro Cebu.

It was inaugurated last December.

Those who wish to avail of the facility will have to pay specific Tipping Fee to Asian EnergySystems Corporation.

The firm has assured safety and said the facility has complied with the necessary regulations and guidelines stipulated in Section 59 of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid waste Management Act of 2000.