Mayor Jun Bernabe ordered the operations of the facility shut down after mounting complaints from residents reached his office.
Bernabe announced the immediate closure of the garbage transfer station in Barangay San Antonio after meeting with leaders and residents of the Fourth Estate Subdivision who trooped to City Hall last week to air their protest against the continued operation of the facility.
The dialogue, which was expected to result in heated debates and arguments, turned out to be a positive exchange as the Mayor listened and understood the residents‘ grievances.
He assured them that a closure order will be served directing the private garbage contractor to cease operating the transfer station effective end of June.
"We thank Mayor Bernabe for his sensitivity to our problem by acting favorably on our complaint. All we are asking now is an assurance that the private garbage contractor will stick to the deadline given by the mayor," said Area 1 Homeowners Association president Antonio Mendoza.
The private contractor, Boying Sanchez, owner of Corinthian Trucking, who was also present during the dialogue, asked to be given more time to look for a replacement site for the transfer station, but Bernabe rejected the request.
"I can no longer ignore the fact that the continued operation of the facility has compromised the health and well-being of the affected residents within the immediate vicinity of the facility, especially the children who are most susceptible to respiratory ailments," Bernabe said.