BAGUIO CITY (PIA)--The Environmental Management Bureau - Cordillera Administrative Region (EMB-CAR) is encouraging the local government units (LGUs) to cluster  in  constructing  Engineered Sanitary Landfill (ESLF).

According to Engr. Ricardo Dang-iw, Chief of the Solid Waste Management Section of EMB-CAR, out of the 77 municipalities in Cordillera, only nine have their own ESLFs. Out of 14 potential ESLFs in  the entire region, 10 passed the evaluation in 2021.

Dang-iw  informed that they have conducted feasibility study for a potential clustered ESLF in Lamut, Ifugao which will initially cater to five LGUs. Consultations will be conducted and the clustered LGUs may be increased depending on the commitment of the concerned local chief executives.

This year, the EMB-CAR is targeting another three clustered areas as it continues to look for sites that would pass the parameters for a sanitary landfill.

"We are initially coordinating with Tadian as cluster, San Juan in Abra, and we will be coordinating with other LGUs that would accept or willing to host clustered sanitary landfill and LGUs who would commit to cluster with the host municipality," Dang-iw said.

Engr. Raul Cubangay, Chief of the Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division of EMB-CAR,   informed that they are continuously assisting the LGUs to find potential sites for landfills.

The office is providing construction designs to the LGUs with the lowest costing amounting to Php7 million for a landfill that can operate for at least five years. It is also hiring geologists and civil engineers just to fastrack construction of the ESLF of the LGUs,” he said.

As other LGUs are on the process of having their own sanitary landfills, the EMB continues to introduce other technologies for waste management like the Material Recovery Facility, composting, and plastic factory. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)