CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Mayor Oscar Rodriguez yesterday blamed a United Kingdom-based firm for the delay of the biosphere facility in Baran-gay Lara seen to address the problem of solid waste manage-ment here.
In an interview with Punto yesterday, Rodriguez said the Spectrum Blue Steel Corporation and its partner, TGEG, should have operated the biosphere project last year at the area in Lara exposed by Punto last week as illegal open dumpsite.
The biosphere gasification facility will significantly help the city in eliminating its problems with wastes and energy since the technology converts solid wastes into clean green energy, said the city government in a statement.
Rodriguez said the biosphere is expected to operate this year and the firm “was properly reprimanded” for the delay of the project.
This developed as Rodriguez stressed to Punto that the area in Lara “is a residual waste area and not an open dumpsite.”
“We sort out all the garbage that enters the area. What you saw in the photos (published by Punto) are residual wastes that are exposed,” said Rodriguez, who opened yesterday the Himlayang Fernandino cemetery in Lara which is a few meters away from residual waste area, also known as material recovery facility.
“Do you see that? That’s the building we will use for the biosphere project,” said Rodriguez pointing to the facility which is adjacent to the public cemetery which he opened yesterday.
Rodriguez also said some of the photos taken by Punto and other newspapers “are not new.”
He was referring to the photo showing the trash at the Del Carmen bridge which is near Lara.
“Look at it today and the area is clean,” added Rodriguez.
Asked about the smoke that is seen from the garbage area in Lara published by Punto on February 9, Rodriguez said “it’s biogas that’s burning by its own.”
In his speech at the opening of the cemetery in Lara, Rodriguez said “this area exposed by Joey Pavia of Punto Central Luzon as dumpsite is a waste residual facility.” He was smiling when he delivered it.
Rodriguez also delivered a jest to Lara Barangay Captain Alejo Singian who attended the event with Sindalan Barangay Captain Arnel Sicat, presidsent of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president.
“I am not sleeping lately at my house in Lara. But I heard that the barangay captain had made many people fat with that facility in Lara,” said Rodriguez referring to the residual facility in the village.
Rodriguez also said Punto’s Bong Lacson and his wife Dottie “are my good friends and I love them both.”
Lacson, a columnist and editorial consultant of Punto, was the one who took the photos of the alleged open dumpsite in Lara.
Asked if politics is behind what he described as negative write-ups about him, Rodriguez said: “Ita ing daramdaman ko (That is what I hear).”
Rodriguez, a three-term mayor, disclosed that he was keen in going back as a “congressman.” He was a three-term third district representative before becoming mayor.
Third District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, who is reportedly not in good terms with Rodriguez, is just on his second term.
Councilor Jimmy Lazatin, who was with the mayor in Lara, disclosed that the city council passed about two weeks ago a resolution urging Gonzales to re-file a bill to make the City of San Fernando a lone district. It will have a representative in Congress.
In an interview with Punto yesterday, Rodriguez said the Spectrum Blue Steel Corporation and its partner, TGEG, should have operated the biosphere project last year at the area in Lara exposed by Punto last week as illegal open dumpsite.
The biosphere gasification facility will significantly help the city in eliminating its problems with wastes and energy since the technology converts solid wastes into clean green energy, said the city government in a statement.
Rodriguez said the biosphere is expected to operate this year and the firm “was properly reprimanded” for the delay of the project.
This developed as Rodriguez stressed to Punto that the area in Lara “is a residual waste area and not an open dumpsite.”
“We sort out all the garbage that enters the area. What you saw in the photos (published by Punto) are residual wastes that are exposed,” said Rodriguez, who opened yesterday the Himlayang Fernandino cemetery in Lara which is a few meters away from residual waste area, also known as material recovery facility.
“Do you see that? That’s the building we will use for the biosphere project,” said Rodriguez pointing to the facility which is adjacent to the public cemetery which he opened yesterday.
Rodriguez also said some of the photos taken by Punto and other newspapers “are not new.”
He was referring to the photo showing the trash at the Del Carmen bridge which is near Lara.
“Look at it today and the area is clean,” added Rodriguez.
Asked about the smoke that is seen from the garbage area in Lara published by Punto on February 9, Rodriguez said “it’s biogas that’s burning by its own.”
In his speech at the opening of the cemetery in Lara, Rodriguez said “this area exposed by Joey Pavia of Punto Central Luzon as dumpsite is a waste residual facility.” He was smiling when he delivered it.
Rodriguez also delivered a jest to Lara Barangay Captain Alejo Singian who attended the event with Sindalan Barangay Captain Arnel Sicat, presidsent of the Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president.
“I am not sleeping lately at my house in Lara. But I heard that the barangay captain had made many people fat with that facility in Lara,” said Rodriguez referring to the residual facility in the village.
Rodriguez also said Punto’s Bong Lacson and his wife Dottie “are my good friends and I love them both.”
Lacson, a columnist and editorial consultant of Punto, was the one who took the photos of the alleged open dumpsite in Lara.
Asked if politics is behind what he described as negative write-ups about him, Rodriguez said: “Ita ing daramdaman ko (That is what I hear).”
Rodriguez, a three-term mayor, disclosed that he was keen in going back as a “congressman.” He was a three-term third district representative before becoming mayor.
Third District Rep. Aurelio Gonzales, who is reportedly not in good terms with Rodriguez, is just on his second term.
Councilor Jimmy Lazatin, who was with the mayor in Lara, disclosed that the city council passed about two weeks ago a resolution urging Gonzales to re-file a bill to make the City of San Fernando a lone district. It will have a representative in Congress.
