The construction phase of the controversial Metro Bohol Cluster Sanitary Landfill in Alburquerque town has started with the completion of the three-kilometer road network leading to the project site in barangay Dangay. This developed after it was learned that the Philippine Tourism Authority has issued the Notice to Proceed to the winning contractor identified as D.I Cervantes Construction, a company based in Laguna. The project is worth P75 million. Also known as the Alburquerque Cluster Sanitary Facility Project, the common disposal site became controversial after some residents protested the inclusion of 10 other municipalities from using the garbage dump. It was during the time of former mayor Efren Tungol that the project was conceived but his participation was limited only in the choice of the town as host of the cluster facility. Initiated by the Bohol Environmental Management Office under the Office of Gov. Erico Aumentado in cooperation with the Environmental Governance Program (ECOGOV), the project was funded solely by the Philippine Tourism Authority with the condition that it will accept the garbage of 10 other neighboring municipalities, namely, Lila, Loay, Baclayon, Corella, Sikatuna, Dauis, Panglao, Cortes , Maribojoc , Balilihan and Loboc. All the mayors of these towns signed a memorandum of agreement with the provincial government represented in the document by Gov. Aumentado. Two basic national laws—Republic Act 9003 and Republic Act 7160,the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and the Local Government Code of 1991, respectively, mandated the establishment of the landfill facility.

BENEFITS

mong the benefits cited for the host town are in no case will Alburquerque pay the so-called tipping fee; generate employment to the local population; increase revenue for the town; give more funding support for infrastructure and project a good image for the town because of more projects attributed to the hosting of the facility.