Dumaguete steps up campaign vs. garbage

CEBU, Philippines - The local government of Dumaguete has stepped up its massive campaign to address the increasing problem of garbage in this capital city of Negros Oriental province.

Mayor Manuel Sagarbarria disclosed this Wednesday during the blessing and inauguration of the new, two-story building of the Environment and Natural Resources Office, costing P2 million, right across the city's open pit dump at the outskirts barangay of Candauay.

Transferring the ENRO to its new location, right in the vicinity of the dumpsite, would ensure giving full attention to the garbage problem, said Sagarbarria, who wanted to make Dumaguete the cleanest city in the country within the next three to five years, while being tagged as one of the best retirement places in the world.

The mayor has designated ENRO chief Rey Awayan to take over management of the dumpsite, which was earlier under the City Agriculturist's Office. Awayan said the first task will be to clean up the dumpsite and move inward hundreds of tons of garbage, which have already spilled over to the road.

The city government has rented two bulldozers to do the task because its own bulldozers were no longer operational. Awayan admitted the LGU's lack of equipment had caused the delay to tackle the increasing garbage problem but it will be buying soon two surplus compactors and a dump truck.

Dumaguete's volume of trash collected each day has increased from 30 tons in 2013 to around 40 to 60 tons, added Awayan. — Judy Flores Partlow (FREEMAN)