Achas asks landfill cell 2 expansion project implementation

During the 20th City Council regular session, Councilor Christian Rustico M. Achas inquired about the implementation of the ₱50 million budget for the second phase of the construction and development of sanitary landfill cell 2 in Barangay Pagalungan.

According to Achas, ₱185 million was appropriated in 2024 for the operation and maintenance of the sanitary landfill, expansion of the construction and development the landfill, and construction of large-scale materials facility.

Despite this, findings from Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) pointed out critical missing components, including the lack of a High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) liner, non-functioning water treatment facility, and absence of electricity in the landfill, he said.

Councilor Achas said there is no reason for the delay of the project implementation and even the non-implementation given the necessary funding for the purpose. He added that the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO), the implementing agency, informed him that the said fund was not released to them.

Achas argued that the appropriation is also reflected in the 2024 Annual Investment Program (AIP) of the city.

CLENRO’s answer raises the question of the effective and efficient use of the budget, he added.

Councilor Roger Abaday, environment committee chair, explained that, according to the City Engineer’s Office, the ₱50 million budget has been obligated for the implementation of the project in 2025.

With this, Councilor Joey Abbu moved to refer the matter to the environment committee of Abaday and to invite the department heads of the City Engineering Office and City Finance Office to clarify the matter. He also asked that all city council members be given a copy of CLENRO’s response to the show cause letter of EMB. (FDCalotes/SP)