Dried mango export firm plans to build own landfill

CEBU, Philippines - The Consolacion municipal council committee on health, sanitation and environment has advised Profoods International Corporation, one of the biggest exporters of dried mangoes in the country, to first secure a barangay permit and conduct a public hearing for its proposed private sanitary fruit landfill.

The recommendation was made by Councilor Nilo Ferraren after Profoods submitted an application to put up a private sanitary fruit landfill in its private lot in barangay Panoypoy in the town.

It is not known where the company presently dumps its garbage.

The committee, chaired by Ferraren, cited the need for the company to secure a permit from barangay Panoypoy and consult the people through a public hearing.

The councilor said the permit to be granted by barangay Panoypoy and the results of the public hearing will support the application for site development permit from the town.

Unlike the Asian Energy Systems Corporation, a private sanitary landfill in barangay Polog, which accepts garbage from private companies and local government units in Metro Cebu, the proposed Profoods sanitary landfill is intended to accommodate garbage generated by the company.

The town government of Consolacion had signed a memorandum of agreement with the management of AsianEnergySystems Corporation.

Under the agreement, the municipality of Consolacion will avail of 50 percent discount on fees for garbage delivered to the landfill.

 The management of Asian/EnergySystems Corporation collects P700 per ton of garbage dumped at the private sanitary landfill.

In the case of Profoods’ landfill, it is intended for its own waste and is unclear whether it will accept garbage from private companies.

Council members are one in saying that the company should secure a barangay permit first before the council will discuss the application for a landfill. (FREEMAN)