MALASIQUI – The Provincial Board is adopting a very cautious stance over the controversial sanitary landfill project being proposed in the town of Bayambang.

This was conveyed by Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, the board’s presiding officer, and indicated that a very careful study is needed in view of the strong opposition against the proposed multi-million project.

Bayambang municipal council’s Resolution 127 granting permit to private firm Waste Integrated Network Systems Corporation to construct, operate and develop an integrated waste management facility in barangay Dusoc in that town, has been submitted to the Provincial Board for approval.

Meanwhile, board member Alicia Pulido, chairman of the committee on environment, echoed Lambino’s stand saying there will be no rush in the approval of the resolution as they do not want the people of Bayambang to have problems later on.

Lambino, who was attending a meeting of the Vice Governors League of the Philippines in Mindanao when the first public hearing on the matter was held in Bayambang on October 20, said the provincial board’s review will initially focus on how the municipal council’s resolution was passed.

During that public hearing, it was learned that the resolution was approved in a municipal council session where three of the ten members were absent and the voting result was 4-3 in favor of the measure.

Leading those who voted against the resolution was Councilor Gerry de Vera, chairman of the health committee, at whose committee the same was referred.

De Vera charged that even before he can submit his committee report, the resolution was already approved by the majority whom he accused of railroading the approval of the permit.

Saying that while the decision of the matter of putting up a sanitary landfill rests on the municipal council, Lambino said the provincial board will study the matter very carefully so it will not be blamed for being unduly biased by any of the contending parties.

He noted that while some of the people of barangay Dusoc are already in favor of the project, still some of the people of Bayambang, including industrialist Cezar Quiambao, are strongly opposed to the project.  

Meanwhile, Bayambang Mayor Leocadio de Vera said the proposed sanitary landfill in their town will be more modern than the engineered landfill in San Fernando, La Union.

He expressed sadness over why some of his towns people are opposed to the project when this would be beneficial not only to the town but to the province as a whole.

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