Mayor Greg Gasataya led an inspection of Cell No. 4 at the city’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa on Tuesday, January 13, to verify the strict implementation of safety protocols and prevent incidents like the recent mishap in Cebu City.
“There is a big difference compared to my first inspection here. What we want to ensure is that all compliance measures are in place so that what happened in Cebu will not happen here in Bacolod,” Gasataya said, highlighting sloping and benching measures put in place by the International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialist Inc. (ISWIMS).
He added that access to the landfill has been substantially upgraded.
“Two dump trucks can now go uphill at the same time, compared to before when only one truck could proceed. This will reduce downtime and help make garbage collection more efficient,” the mayor said.
ISWIMS Operations Manager Mario Sandil explained that proper waste compaction remains a top priority. “Aside from mixing soil with the waste, we also place topsoil on every three meters of waste to achieve better compaction,” he said.
Sandil said that corrective actions have been implemented since ISWIMS took over operations. “We made rectifications to address errors left by the previous private contractor to ensure safety while maximizing the capacity of Cell No. 4,” he added.
Heavy equipment is currently deployed for sloping and benching work at the site.
While optimizing use of Cell No. 4, Gasataya also reviewed plans for Cell No. 5, which will also be operated by ISWIMS. Sandil said construction is targeted for completion within three to four months, a timeline that will help alleviate the city’s garbage backlog.
The mayor also addressed challenges facing the Bacolod Integrated Recovery and Treatment Hub (BIRTH) Facility, which is planned for the landfill area. The project has been delayed due to the lack of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Following the inspection, Gasataya met with Vicente Losbañes, acting regional director of the Environmental Management Bureau-Negros Island Region, on Tuesday afternoon to discuss ECC issuance for both the BIRTH Facility and Cell No. 5 – projects critical to the city’s solid waste management program.
Within the 30-plus hectare landfill compound, Gasataya outlined plans for a waste-to-energy project, calling it a potential transformative solution for the city’s garbage concerns.
“We will not limit our initiatives to efficient garbage collection and landfill management. We will also pursue a waste-to-energy plant as a proactive solution to our garbage woes,” Gasataya said.
City Councilors Homer Bais and Jude Thaddeus Sayson, City Administrator Mark Steven Mayo, Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office officer-in-charge Allyn Luv Dignadice, City Engineer’s Office OIC Engr. Loben Ceballos, Office of the Building Official OIC Engr. Amy Tentia and representatives from the city’s private solid waste management contractor joined the mayor during the inspection.*