Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) targets to finally thresh out issues that remained to be resolved regarding the operation of the Alburquerque Cluster Sanitary Landfill (ACSL) so the parties involved can already move on to other projects.

TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid, during his recent visit to Bohol as guest speaker of Sandugo streetdancing competition on Sunday, said ACSL is now being finalized, except for some clarifications with the local government unit of Alburquerque.

He said Governor Edgar Chatto and the other LGUs are also helping TIEZA, because the sanitary landfill is a facility that Bohol really needs.

Lapid said he hopes they can clarify all the issues with the LGU of Alburquerque so that TIEZA can already turn it over to them for the operations of the landfill.

TIEZA Assistant Chief Operating Officer Guiller Asido earlier assured that the P300-million ACSL will finally be turned over to the host local government unit by September this year.

The last batch of equipment from the United States will be delivered in August to complete the components of the sanitary landfill, as he earlier told the mayors of the 11 local government units that comprise the cluster.

TIEZA first set the target commissioning of the sanitary landfill in January this year, but some delays postponed it to the following months, until it was finalized as of June that it would be by September yet that the project can be turned over.

The municipality of Alburquerque hosts the project in a 6.9-hectare property in barangay Dangay.

During the meeting of the sanitary landfill board in June, presided by the board chair–Alburquerque Mayor Efren Tungol–it was clarified that only residual waste will be accepted at the sanitary landfill and it is important that the LGUs of the towns in the cluster will strictly implement solid waste segregation at source.

This is part of the implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or Republic Act 9003 enacted in January 2001.

The 11 LGUs in the cluster that signed the memorandum of agreement include Corella, Cortes, Dauis, Balilihan, Baclayon, Lila, Loboc, Panglao, Maribojoc, Sikatuna and the host—Alburquerque.

In addition to the original 11 towns in the cluster, the LGUs of Tagbilaran and Loay also expressed interest to be included.

The new cluster member applicants are required to submit a letter of intent signifying the interest to join the cluster sanitary landfill group, a Sangguniang Bayan or Sangguniang Panlungsod resolution expressing the LGU’s interest to join the cluster, and an approved 10-year solid waste management plan.

It was also noted that Tagbilaran City disposes five to six times more garbage than all the 11 original members of the cluster combined.

The LGUs plan to use the budget for solid waste management programs in their respective municipalities, but Governor Edgar Chatto recommended that a body will be created identity possible fund sources for the purpose.

The member LGUs are also urged to conduct a Waste Assessment Characterization Study (WACS) to determine the volume of waste generated in their respective localities which can also serve as basis for the estimated amount of tipping fee that will be required.

Initially, the sanitary landfill board agreed to set the tipping fee at P700 per ton of waste that each member LGU will pay to Alburquerque LGU.

The member LGUs will under a series of trainings in the months of July and August to brief them of the coordination and their respective responsibilities to prepare them for the operation of the sanitary landfill under the management of the LGU of Alburquerque.

The governor said it is the first sanitary landfill in the country, covering a cluster of towns.

OTHER TIEZA PROJECTS IN BOHOL

Lapid said Bohol can expect more projects from TIEZA as part of the commitment to help Bohol tourism.

Lapid said TIEZA targets to start the P60-million Friendship park at the Sandugo Shrine in barangay Bool, Tagbilaran City wherein TIEZA will spruce up the area with a giant gallon to attract more tourists.

As of now, TIEZA is still in the process of bidding the project and targets to finish it within the year.

In prelude to the project, TIEZA attends now to the proposal to first repair the view deck of the Chocolate Hills in Carmen.

TIEZA is also funding the restoration of the churches damaged during the earthquake.

TIEZA is also managing 1.5 hectares of the 25-hectare Balicasag island, a world-renown diving site in Panglao.

Governor Edgar Chatto, introduced Lapid during the Sandugo Streetdancing competition as one of the consistent partners of Bohol tourism and development for the several projects from TIEZA that the province benefitted from.

The circumferential road is one of the many projects from TIEZA that boosted the tourism industry of the province.

Chatto also confirmed talks with TIEZA for more projects coming to Bohol.