Wanted:Fulltime sanitary landfill manager

CEBU, Philippines - Talisay City Councilor Antonio D. Bacaltos Jr., chairman of the Committee on Natural Resources Management, wants the city government to designate a full-time sanitary landfill manager in Barangay Tapul.

The call of Bacaltos came after the fire incident that happened last Feb. 22 which almost totally damaged the Pond C of the sanitary landfill. The fire started after extreme heat sparked fire to the methane gas that got accumulated within the dumpsite.

According to Bacaltos, the incident could have been prevented if a qualified manager and a task force had been put in place.

In last Tuesday's session, the city council approved the resolution "to request Mayor Johnny de los Reyes to immediately assign a qualified staff that will be designated as full time sanitary landfill manager in Barangay Tapul."

Bacaltos also said a task force under the supervision of the SLF manager will maintain the landfill at least seven days a week and 24 hours a day.

The City of Talisay has invested heavily on the sanitary landfill located in Barangay Tapul which is supposed to solve the garbage problems. It has instead become a source of environmental concerns for our local government," Bacaltos said.

The neophyte councilor said that for the last few months, the sanitary landfill has been bereft of a manager and task force to manage it and maximize its usefulness and to protect it from damage.