Benguet folk optimistic SC to shut down Baguio dump

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Philippines – Residents of Tuba town in this province are optimistic that the Supreme Court (SC) would issue an order closing down the Irisan dump in Baguio City.

This as the petition for a writ of kalikasan against the dump was officially filed with the SC last Thursday afternoon.

SC justices are now ready to study the merits of the petition, said lawyer Noe Villanueva of the Sanidad and Villanueva Law Office.

Last Wednesday, Benguet and La Union officials along with the Tuba residents signed the petition asking the SC to order the Baguio City government to finally close down and rehabilitate the Irisan dump.

Benguet officials led by Rep. Ronald Cosalan, joined by National Artist and Tuba resident Ben Cabrera, nine municipal executives from Aringay, La Union led by Councilor Charlie Juloya, and eight residents, submitted the petition.

Cosalan personally brought the petition to the SC after furnishing a copy to Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Ramon Paje.

Villanueva said they are hoping to get a temporary environmental protection order from the SC for the Baguio City government to halt the disposal of garbage at the Irisan dump.

“We hope the SC justices will do what is right,” Villanueva said.

“We want Baguio to sit down with Tuba officials to craft a comprehensive plan on how to face the avalanche problem, not just piecemeal solutions,” Cosalan said.

Last Aug. 27, tons of garbage cascaded from the Irisan dump at the height of typhoon “Mina,” burying alive a sexagenarian woman and three grandchildren and two other residents and contaminating potable water systems.

After receiving copies of the petition, Baguio officials maintained that they are doing their best to avert disastrous situations at the Irisan dump.

A company contracted by the local officials to haul non-biodegradable waste, however, has failed in looking for dumps outside the city.