BAGUIO CITY – Mayor Mauricio Domogan reiterated his appeal to residents and visitors to cooperate and do their share in the Summer Capital’s on-going anti-littering campaign by depositing their trash in garbage receptacles and not just anywhere.
He said this will go a long way in easing the city’s garbage problem that usually spikes during big events like the Panagbenga especially its main highlights like the street dancing and float parades where thousands of visitors troop to the city and witness the annual spectacle.
The chief executive said the public should utilize the trash receptacles put in various areas of the central business district for their litter as he encouraged visitors to treat Baguio as their home-away-from-home and keep its environment clean, green and garbage-free.
Domogan stressed that the local government continues to search for a permanent solution to the city’s garbage disposal woes and the contribution of all sectors is important in crafting the long-term solution to the decade-old problem.
As a stop-gap measure, the city has been using a portion of the 92-hectare Baguio Dairy Farm as a temporary transfer station as it continuous to search for an appropriate permanent solution to the problem in order to prevent a looming garbage crisis.
“The Dairy Farm transfer station is very temporary because we are still looking for the appropriate permanent solution to the problem. We are not running away from the problem but facing it squarely since it is the interest of residents that is of utmost importance,” Domogan said.
He disclosed that a ranking official of the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Animal Industry will be visiting the city anytime to inspect if the temporary transfer station poses a serious threat to the animals being taken cared by its personnel way above the said station.
Domogan said he is hoping that the DA inspector will see that the animals are not being adversely affected since a small area is only being used for compacting garbage and not dumping purposes.
He said however, that while the official decision of DA Sec. Manny Pinol is still being awaited, the city will be doing direct hauling to Urdaneta that is why he is asking residents to properly segregate their garbage into biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes.
By Gaby Keith
