CONSTRUCTION of the Antamok Integrated Solid Waste Disposal Facility (AISWDF) remains to be the most efficient way to solve Baguio’s problem on waste, including the hauling to Capas, Tarlac.
In a recent report by the Technical Working Group (TWG), the study for the creation of an ISW facility can be feasible at the Benguet Corporation owned Antamok Open Pit mining site.
“It is doable, but there is a recommendation na mas maganda kung ilipat sa adjoining area iyong facility kasi may mga settlers daw sa baba maaring maapektuhan,” Mayor Mauricio Domogan said.
The TWG is chaired by General Services Officer Romeo Concio together with City Engineer Elpidio Garabiles, City Planning and Development Officer Evelyn Cayat, the regional director or representative from the Environmental Management Bureau-Cordillera and Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Cordillera, representative from the National Solid Waste Management Commission and Benguet Corporation as members.
According to Domogan, the area is within the property of Benguet Corporation.
“Maaari kasing alam ng Benguet Corporation na may settlers diyan at pinayagan nila or nagsquat lang sila diyan so the corporation should be the one to settle it with them,” Domogan said.
The planned AISWDF will include a material recovery facility (MRF), an anaerobic digester, a waste-to-energy plant, and environmental recycling system (ERS) machines, an engineered sanitary landfill, health care and medical waste treatment plant and special waste treatment plant.
Domogan added the city alone cannot fund the said project so they will undergo a four-cornered agreement with the Benguet Corp., and the Municipality of Itogon.
“The partner will provide the latest technology if it is pyrolysis or it is a mixture of pyrolisis then waste to energy at their own expense, that’s why it is important na makita ng TWG iyong operational na kanilang planta sa Ireland at sa West Germany,” Domogan said.
Domogan hopes to implement the project soon once all requirements from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources are completed.
“After that, may engineering intervention na sa site mismo kasi iyong intension natin na gawin nila is to create an engineered sanitary landfill at a portion of it for the mean time para habang ininstall nila iyong technology ay ma-address na natin iyong garbage problems natin para mahinto na rin iyong garbage hauling natin sa Capas, Tarlac,” Domogan said.
“Later on kapag nakaset na itong makina, puwede nilang hukayin na naman iyong ideneposito natin na basura iprocess sa makina,” Domogan added.
While the AISWDF will help the city save on garbage hauling fees, Domogan said the budget for garbage problem will be negligible as it will be limited on garbage collection and tipping fee only.
“My dream and I hope that not only those officials of the City Government but including our citizenry will join us that it must be done before my term ends,” Domogan closed.
At present, at least 130 tons of the generated residual wastes of the city are shipped daily to the sanitary landfill in Capas, Tarlac, costing around P200,000 to P300,000 daily, while the city’s biodegradable wastes are converted into fertilizers.