AT LEAST 100 residents of Purok Gaisano, Barangay Alijis in Bacolod City have expressed strong opposition to the plan of IPM-Construction and Development Corp. (IPM-CDC) to put up a garbage transloading facility in the purok nearest to them.
In their letter dated August 7, 2017 addressed to Councilors Em Ang and Cindy Rojas, they said they are opposing the plan of IPM-CDC to move its material sorting facility to Purok Maanyag because their purok (sub-village) will suffer the foul smell and contamination which will necessarily result from the proximity of the waste materials to them.
“There are not so many people in Purok Maanyag, but we in the next purok will be exposed to so much waste materials,” they said.
IPM-CDC is the contractor for garbage collection and hauling of the City Government.
Alijis village chieftain Vemver Ray Buenafe had earlier sought the intervention of the City Council on the operation of the IPM-CDC garbage transloading station in their village.
Buenafe said the transfer station is not suitable for the area because it is surrounded by houses, medical supply factory, and eateries which can be very hazardous to health.
Last week, the village officials, along with the officers of City Health Office and Environment and Natural Resources Office (Enro), held a public hearing with the personnel of IPM-CDC and the residents in the area.
Buenafe said they are only a host barangay, but in terms of the technicalities, the CHO and Enro should be in-charge.
He said several suggestions have been discussed and it is up to the IPM-CDC to follow these or not.
Buenafe said another public hearing will be held within the month.
