The proper disposal of garbage in the province remains to be a major environmental concern until these days even as 16 towns, including Tagbilaran City are starting to express disappointment on the delayed operation of the multi-million sanitary landfill in Alburquerque town.

The problem on garbage disposal is expected to escalate into a more serious problem if the landfill cannot operate by next year.

This apprehension surfaced anew after stakeholders were informed that there is no power and water yet at the 6.9-hectare landfill project which construction started four years ago amid some controversies between the local government unit of Albur and the Tourism Infrastructure & Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA).

During a meeting convened by Gov. Edgar Chatto, TIEZA officer-in-charge, lawyer Guiller Asido assured stakeholders that the water and power connections will be fast tracked  in order to schedule the final turnover of the project to LGU-Albur.

BOHECO authorities were present during the meeting with the landfill stakeholders.

City Mayor Baba Yap was the first LGU to raise its clamor for the immediate operation of the sanitary landfill in Albur. Aside from this capital city, the tourism hub of Panglao likewise clamored for the landfill to operate the soonest possible time before sanitary concerns will  escalate into an environment problem in the resort zone.

When asked to comment on this major environmental problem, Gov. Chatto told The Chronicle yesterday that TIEZA has targeted February 15 to be the completion date of the water and power connections as well as the training required for LGU-Albur which will be commissioned to run the operations of the first ever sanitary landfill in the province.

Once completed, the landfill will be the dump site for residual waste from the 16 municipalities and the capital city.
The towns which will become the first clients of the P260 million sanitary landfill are:  Panglao, Dauis, Baclayon, Alburquerque, Loay, Lila, Dimiao, Loboc, Sikatuna, Corella, Balilihan, Cortes, Maribojoc, Antequera, aside from the capital city.

The towns of Loon and Calape were the latest to signify for inclusion  in the stakeholders’ list.

TIEZA said the turnover of the project will immediately follow after the power and water connections be completed

The operation of the sanitary landfill will eventually solve the garbage disposal problem in the 17 areas of the province.

As to the revenue of the landfill, the announced P700 per ton tipping fee will still be reviewed. The operation and maintenance of the sanitary landfill will be under LGU-Albur after proper training can be conducted.
Albur Mayor Efren Tungol  is the designated  chairman of the Albur Sanitary Landfill.

The Solid Waste Management Commission under Belly Cabeso will conduct the training modules for the landfill operation as well as the role of the LGUs participating in the cluster.

The final inspection of the project will be conducted by TIEZA, LGU-Albur and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 7.