Farmers, residents like sanitary landfill but oppose its location

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    SAMAL, Bataan- A group of farmers and residents on Thursday expressed concerns on the proposed sanitary landfill undergoing ground works adjacent to ricelands here, saying they like the program but are strongly in opposition to the site.

    “Magandang programa ang sanitary landfill ngunit ang tinututulan namin ay ang lugar na pagtatayuan na kamatayan para sa mga magsasaka,” Teody Guinto of Barangay San Juan said.

    He said that more than 50 hectares of ricelands tilled by not less than 80 farmers are to be directly affected if the sanitary landfill pushes through in Sitio Aplo, San Juan.

    Guinto claimed that the landfill poses danger to the livelihood of farmers. “Napakalaking peligro idudulot nito sa mga magsasaka dahil ang landfill ay isang dangkal lamang ang layo sa pinagkukunan ng patubig ng mga lupang sakahan na nakapaligid dito,” he said.

    He and some other farmers and residents said the area is flood-prone that will contaminate the groundwater and surface water as well as the rivers and streams.

    They said the municipal government did not conduct any public hearing on the proposed site in violation of the provisions of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

    In opposition to the site, Guinto said more than 700 residents of San Juan signed a petition received by the sangguniang bayan in October 2014.

    “Hindi katanggap-tanggap na ikapit sa mga tao ang basurahan at dapat kinuha ang sensitivity ng mga mamamayan bago ituloy ang programa,” inland resort owner Emilio Medina said.

    Medina and the others said the proposed sanitary landfill is near residential areas in Sitios Torres and Pugad Lawin in San Juan.

    The group proposed that the new sanitary landfill be placed instead at the open dumpsite of the municipality in an upland sitio of San Juan.

    “Mayora, ito na sanang kasalukuyang dumpsite ang gawing basurahan na maluwang naman at walang mapipinsalang marami. Huwag doon sa malapit sa kabahayan at bukirin,” former municipal councilor Rafael Guinto appealed to Mayor Gene dela Fuente.

    “Bakurin lang at sinupin itong kasalukuyang dumpsite. Kontento na kami rito bilang lugar sa bagong sanitary landfill,” he added.

    The Samal mayor has not yet given her reaction.

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