Baguio's garbage problem becomes a political issue

BAGUIO CITY , Philippines  – The still unresolved garbage crisis in the city is becoming a venue for political intramurals that is perfect for wannabes in the coming polls here.

Although parrying no politics is involved in dipping his fingers to local affairs of the city, Baguio Rep. Mauricio Domogan, touted as Baguio’s “janitor” when he was thrice mayor here in the late 90’s, is pushing for an executive-legislative decision to address the woe that has been irking most residents, especially the business community.

Domogan, a leading stalwart of the ruling Lakas-CMD in the Cordillera, who is reportedly eyeing to retake his old post as mayor is calling Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., who already bolted KAMPI and is said to be running as an independent for Baguio’s lone district, said he wants to finally nail down the problem as if taunting Bautista Jr.’s administration style.

Domogan has said the city should focus on a permanent solution while claiming, “(there) seems no action to implement the permanent solution.”

The congressman intends to actually involve himself in the solution to the problem, which is a little bit too far in so far as city problems are concerned except if such move is connected to his 2010 plans.

Though modest on his proposals, any action by Domogan is considered among his “political moves” to inch farther against his more serious rivals in 2010 like city councilor Elaine Sembrano who had not talked so much about the problem, former City councilor Jose Molintas who had blamed Domogan while he was mayor for “overpopulating” the city, former city mayor Jun Labo who remains to be seen again, including the less serious Domogan rival, former president Estrada’s millionaire-ally Mark Go who has not been in Baguio after Estrada’s ouster.

Bautista Jr., though, has a “fixed tirade” against his political detractors (both overt and covert) – that he only inherited the problem, in fact, he was the one who closed the unlawful dumpsite.

At the moment, the mayor said, hauling the garbage out of Baguio in the absence of an engineered sanitary landfill is still the clearest solution but Domogan insists, “a permanent solution than hauling that will eat up the resources of the city government is needed.”

Bautista Jr.’s tact for the immediate solution so as to “salvage” the “stinking garbage” issue against his administration, has been meeting stiff opposition by those holding the power of the city’s purse. City councilors, most of whom are running in 2010, have thumbed down any more funding for hauling because according to them, some chunks of these funds are going to fatten pockets some more.