Barangay residents disrupt dumpsite operations
THE open dumpsite in Dagupan City was closed for a day on June 29.
Mounting uncollected garbage in barangay Bonuan Boquig, where Dagupan’s open dumpsite is located, prompted barangay officials to organize a protest action on Wednesday by blocking the entrance to the city’s waste disposal area.
Several vehicles, including those of the barangay and personally owned by barangay officials, were parked at the road leading to the dumpsite in an attempt to stop the disposal of three truckloads of garbage.
Barangay Chairman William Datuin, who admitted initiating the barricade, said barangay officials decided to hold the protest action after the Waste Management Division (WMD) failed to collect the garbage in their area for several days.
Residents complained that the uncollected garbage have piled up in their front and backyards.
Barangay Kagawad Enrique Maramba, said since their barangay hosts the open dumpsite, it has the right to close it as well. He lamented that the WMD has put their barangay at the bottom of the priority list to be served.
ALL BARANGAYS
WMD officer-in-charge Teddy Villamil Jr., who rushed to the site to resolve the complaint and the disruption of dumpsite operation, explained that the WMD was unable to collect garbage not only from Barangay Boquig but from all barangays after the heavy equipment used for hauling broke down.
He said only two dump trucks could be used in those days and priority had to be given to the central business district of the city.
Villamil earlier ordered all barangay officials to manage their wastes while the city tried to seek help from the private sector and the military.
Bonuan Boquig’s officials eventually agreed to open the dumpsite after Villamil promised to provide three megabins to the barangay where the residents can temporarily dispose their wastes. (With a report from PIA-Pangasinan)
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