Gov. Edgar M. Chatto called on experts from the University of Philippines and stakeholders to assess and discuss the Alburquerque Sanitary Landfill Project. The governor wanted to be sure on the substance of the project, protection of Albur as site and its environmental impacts. University of the Philippines (UP) experts on environmental impact assessment revealed that the Albur Sanitary Landfill Project was in fact a mitigation or restoration project. Dr. Rene Rollon, director of the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology of the College of Science in UP Diliman categorically stated findings that the Albur sanitary landfill is not an environmentally critical project nor is it in an environmentally critical area. This was established by an eight-man technical working group composed of experts on environmental impact assessment and solid waste management, chemical engineers, and hydrologists formed to review the substance and procedures of the landfill project in Albur. Rollon was joined by fellow member of the TWG, Dr. David Callosa at a Stakeholders’ Forum in Albur on Thursday. He reports, for a sanitary landfill project to be considered environmentally critical, its capacity must reach more than 1,000 tons of garbage. The Albur cluster sanitary landfill is pegged at 12 tons. Environmentally Critical Area (ECA) is a policy defined by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) as an area that is environmentally sensitive and is so listed under Presidential Proclamation (Pres. Proc.) No. 2146, Series of 1981 as well as other areas which the President of the Philippines may proclaim as environmentally critical in accordance with Section 4 of P.D, No. 1586.

Actually, requisites complied by the project exceeded requirements, he added after reviewing all 25 documents handed to the advisory council and conducting additional study and site inspection of their own. Gov. Edgar M. Chatto sought the help of the UP Advisory Council following President Noynoy Aquino’s declaration of support for the completion of the project during the latter’s visit in August. Chatto said the Provincial Government whose policies have been largely research-based wanted a clear re-evaluation of the substance and procedures of the project, its compliance to requirements, and environmental impacts in order to ensure sustainability of the environment. The governor had in previous meetings expressed importance of protecting Albur as host and site of the project. Thursday’s forum at the Municipal Gym in Albur hoped to bring stakeholders to a consensus on the need for the completion of the project. Initially constructed under the Philippine Tourism Industry (PTA) and now under Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), the Albur sanitary landfill project has been allocated ₱140M for the implementation of Phase 2 which will lead to its completion, a pronouncement made by PNoy during his visit to the province. Also present during the forum were National Solid Waste Commission (NSWC) Director Emelita Aguinaldo, DENR Provincial Head Nestor Canda, and Bohol Environment and Management Office OIC Leonilo Lafuente. (Leah/EDCom)