Clark sanitary landfill operational by Dec. 15

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — The P500-million initial phase of the 100-hectare sanitary landfill here is expected to be operational by Dec. 15.

This, as the landfill’s critics, led by Mayor Rey Catacutan of Bamban, Tarlac, have apparently mellowed down after inspecting last Friday the almost completed project which observers described as "looking more like a resort than a landfill."

Outgoing Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Heherson Alvarez, Tarlac Gov. Jose Yap and Catacutan led the group which inspected the project, reputed to be the first of its kind in the country. Officials from other Central Luzon provinces joined them.

They expressed satisfaction with the project being completed by the German consortium Ingenieurburo Birkhahn Nolte and Heers & Brockstedt.

Tarlac officials earlier had approved the sanitary landfill’s initial phase, which covers some five hectares, despite opposition mostly from Bamban residents who expressed fears that the sanitary landfill would adversely affect their environment.

But Catacutan, who visited the project site for the first time last Friday, said he was impressed by the state-of-the-art technology in place at the landfill in Barangay Kalangitan in his town. The area though is part of the subzone of the Clark special economic zone under the state-owned Clark Development Corp. (CDC).

Catacutan saw for himself a three-hectare, initial dug-up site where wastes would be dumped, and the entire area layered with impervious black plastic to protect underground water from any liquid coming from the wastes.

He took note of a device for "reverse osmosis" which would purify liquid from wastes into potable water to be channeled to a nearby half-hectare pond.

"The project looks more like a resort with a swimming pool," said one of Catacutan’s staffers, noting the site being surrounded by scenic hills.

"Initially, the landfill would be used for wastes from the Clark ecozone, but we would welcome other nearby municipalities which would like to use it," Hans Holger, project manager of the German consortium, said.

Albert Magalang, executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Commission, said he plans to duplicate the Clark landfill for Metro Manila, describing it as "the only one of its kind in the country."

He doused the local folk’s fears that the landfill would also be used for Metro Manila’s mounting garbage, saying the site is too far from the metropolis and transporting garbage here would be "too costly."