ALABEL, Sarangani (October 5, 2022) – In his cause to protect the environment, Governor Rogelio “Ruel” D. Pacquiao led on Wednesday, October 5, the groundbreaking and time capsule laying of the P18-million worth Category 4 sanitary landfill at Barangay Bagacay in the province’s capital town Alabel.
The sanitary landfill, which is expected to be fully-operational by 3rd quarter of 2023, will be constructed at the 2.8-hectare area where the Sanitary Medical Waste Treatment Facility is located.
Governor Pacquaio said the event marked another milestone for Sarangani Province towards preserving the environment especially that Sarangani operates a provincial hospital and the satellite hospitals in the province’s five municipalities which generate hazardous and toxic wastes.
“We must all be responsible in disposing the wastes particularly the hazardous and toxic wastes coming from our hospitals nga dili nato pwede ilabay lang basin asa. It can cause sickness and diseases nga makapahamak sa atong mga kaigsoonan sa probinsya.”
In his speech, Governor Pacquiao also thanked his predecessor Congressman Steve Chiongbian Solon as this project was initiated during his tenure as governor.
Governor Pacquiao said he saw how important the project is and therefore pursued its implementation in his administration.
Engr. Omar M. Saikol, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Region 12 Environmental Management Bureau Director, graced the event and gave his full support to the project.
“Naga level-up ang Sarangani,” he said as he mentioned that category landfill can only be seen in highly-urbanized cities. “But, in Sarangani the government itself is working towards the protection ng ating environment.”
He lamented on the problem on solid wastes particularly the hazardous wastes. The landfill to be built in Sarangani, according to Saikol, is just timely to cater to all these hazardous wastes not just in the province but also in neighboring areas as he cited the facility in Tantangan as already overwhelmed.
Rolando Tuballes, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer, said they launched and commissioned the Sarangani Waste Treatment Facility back in 2020 but cannot operate without the Category 4 sanitary landfill which is the required disposal for toxic and hazardous wastes like the infectious wastes coming from the province’s government-run hospitals.
During the event, a signing of the pledge of commitment was done to show support to the provincial government’s campaign on the “proper utilization of the facility and for the optimization of the project towards effective operational system in support to the economic investment and development of the province as well as on public health and welfare.”
Meanwhile, Saikol expressed his appreciation to the provincial leaders for initiating a tree growing activity dubbed as the 1 Million Trees Project which was launched earlier that day which according to him, aligns with the DENR’s National Greening Program.
According to Tuballes, their concept of preserving the environment is from “ridge to reef.”
“We launched the 1 Million Trees Project for the ridge, as atong mga kabukiran para sa atong rehabilitation. We broke ground our sanitary landfill project and later on, kung ano ang nagakahitabo diri sa lowland kag sa highland, definitely at the end of the day, it will end up to the ocean,” he said.
“Kinahanglan ma-manage nato gikan sa kinahitas-an ngadto na sa kinailadman sang atong kadagatan,” he added. (Beverly C. Paoyon/ SARANGANI PROVINCIAL INFORMATION OFFICE)
? Jake T. Narte