ITOGON, Benguet – Benguet Corporation (BC) assured all concerned stakeholders that proper consultations will be undertaken by the company in accomplishing the proposed Antamok Engineered Sanitary Landfill with Waste to Energy Project to allay the concerns of some quarters on the social acceptability of the project. This was the statement issued by BC Executive Director Isidro C. Alcantara, Jr. when he visited Baguio City last week. The proposed project is a part of the company’s development and rehabilitation program in Antamok and a private initiative of the company to provide alternative solution to the growing garbage problem not only of Itogon Municipality but the Baguio City and the other component municipalities in the BLISTT area.
Mr. Alcantara expressed the company’s willingness to present to everyone the specific details, economic feasibility and engineering designs of the technology that will drive the project after this has been finally decided by BC and its industrial partner, even if the project will be a private initiative of the company.
However, Alcantara pointed out it will be premature at this time to enter into any detailed discussions of the project as the company and its industrial partner are still in the process of finalizing the project feasibility and are accessing the most viable technology for the best interest of the BLISTT area. He said currently, the company and its partner are doing due diligence and determining a short-list of their possible developers, suppliers and contractors.
“We will make ourselves available for presentations to the concerned stakeholders upon our completion of the required detailed feasibility study and present it for review and consideration. It is the company’s firm commitment to help the BLISTT in addressing their waste management issues by the assignment of one of its private properties in Antamok for the establishment of the project,” Alcantara stressed.
Further, he added the BC Board of Directors has approved the ‘assignment in perpetuity’ of the Antamok property for the use in the project by the joint venture to be formed by BC and its industrial partner, Goldrich Natural Resources Exploration and Development, Inc., so that the planning, development, design and eventual construction of the project can proceed without delay.
BC is also inviting other potential industrial partners that can provide the latest and most efficient technology for waste processing pursuant to environmental laws.
According to him, a technology assessment team will be set up that includes representatives from Baguio City, Itogon Municipality, Environmental Management Bureau, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Goldrich Natural Resources Exploration and Development, Inc., and BC to ensure that all concerns, especiallythose of LGU, are addressed.
Alcantara admitted the participation of Itogon as the host municipality, Baguio Cityas major landfill client, and the DENR, through EMB and MGB, is necessary and without which the project may not be able to proceed.
Finally, the BC official pointed out that thefacilities needed to quickly implement the project are in place, particularly an access road and one of the Antamok mined-out areas with a capacity of 535,400 cubic meters. The proposed project is potentially a pioneering green project for waste management with renewable energy component for maximum economic benefits. By HENT
