SABLAN, Benguet – Officials and residents of the municipality are elated over the reported non-continuance of the proposed multi-million waste to energy project by the Baguio City government in the municipality that would put to a close the long-standing controversial issue besetting the municipal government.
Mayor Alfredo Dacumos, Jr. said that the proposed multi-billion waste to energy project supposed to be undertaken by the Metro Global Renewables Corporation in partnership with the Baguio City government has not been accepted by the municipal government and the indigenous peoples (IPs) in the municipality contrary to earlier pronouncements that the company already applied for the issuance of the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) of the project.
He pointed out that one of the requirements for the issuance of an ECC for the proposed waste to energy project is social acceptability of the host IPs and local government which was never been issued; that is why it would be impossible for the company to be granted the said important document to pursue the project.
Further, he claimed that the proposed site of the waste to energy project is allegedly near the national highway and near some residences which would not be feasible in the first place that is why the municipal government had been recommending that the site for the environmentally-critical project should be located away from major roads and communities because of its projected negative impact to the environment and the health of the people.
The municipal chief executive disclosed that municipal officials heaved a sigh of relief after it was formally announced by Baguio City officials that the proposed waste to energy project in the municipality will no longer be pursued for various reasons.
“We are elated over the recent developments that resulted in the non-continuance of the proposed waste to energy project in our locality because it would eventually erase the perception of the people that we compromised their interest in exchange for the project. From the start, we never agreed or allowed the project to be implemented in our municipality until the proponent shall have complied with the requirements that include the free and prior informed consent of the indigenous peoples, among others, which they never sought,” Mayor Dacumos stressed.
The mayor pointed out that from the consultations conducted among the residents, people do not want Sablan to become the dumping ground of waste from outside the municipality because of potential threats to the state of the environment and the health of the people, aside from other negative impacts to the communities near the proposed facility.
Barangay officials and concerned residents also supported the position of the municipal government that people in the municipality will not allow the put up of environmentally critical projects in any part of the town, particularly waste disposal facilities, due to the eminent threat that these pose to the people and the overall well-being of the communities that will be affected. By HENT
