Garbage haulers disinfected on-site. Contributed photos
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — “Hindi lang virus ang makukuha sa basura na siyang pinagmumulan ng ibat ibang klase ng sakit kaya minabuti ng MCWMC na ipagpatuloy ang pagkolekta ng basura upang makatulong at maiwasan ang pagkalat ng mga karamdaman.“
So grounded Metro Clark Waste Management Corp.executive vice president Vicky Gaetos the decision of the engineered sanitary landfill in Capas, Tarlac to maintain its operations “most especially at this time of the enhanced community quarantine.” The homequarantine arising out of the ECQ is said to have spiked domestic wastes.
Gaetos said that during the ongoing quarantine period, families are staying home. This has resulted in more domestic waste, both biodegradable and non-degradable, and is contributing to the piling up of garbage in different towns and cities in the region.
A study is reported to have shown each householdproducing at least half a kilo of garbage every day or 15 kilos in 30 days at least in Central Luzon.
Domestic waste if not disposed properly will expose residents to additional health risks, said Gaetos, at a time when people must do everything they can to stay healthy. She said garbage must be collected as soon as possible to prevent illnesses in our communities.
The Inter-Agency Task Force on Covid-19 included waste collection and disposal as one of the essential services with the proper management of household waste becoming “especially critical at a time like this, to further safeguard public health.”
“Garbage collectors and waste disposal site workers are also frontliners,” Gaetos said. “They are on duty 24/7 to address the mounting domestic waste being disposed from different households cross Central Luzon.”
MCWMC has on duty more than 100 workers, drivers and helpers, and support staff continuing to provide hauling and disposal services as well as accepting garbage at the company’s disposal site.
Gaetos said critical workers at the sanitary landfill were asked to temporarily stay within the site premises to ensure that disposal of household waste from LGUs and industrial clients continue uninterrupted during the ongoing health crisis.
She hastened that the company has taken all the necessary precautions, and is strictly implementingthese policies inside its landfill facilities. These include social distancing, regular disinfection, and all other necessary hygienic practices.
Gaetos also assured the continuance of collection and disposal of garbage of municipal wastes for as long as their daily services remain unhampered, particularly at checkpoints along and within the boundaries of provinces in Central Luzon.
She expressed her gratitude to local government units who sent their passes and to the members of the Philippine National Police who allowed unhampered passage to all garbage trucks that haul the municipal waste from the waste transfer stations and material recovery facilities.
“MCWMC assures communities in Central Luzon of our continuing services amid the enhanced community quarantine, and this time of crisis. We are ready to haul your domestic wastes,” Gaetos said. – with MCWMC report
