Dagupan can solve its garbage problem if it wants to, says Sual mayor

By Danny O Sagun

Dagupan City (15 July) — This city can solve its perennial garbage disposal problem by allotting enough funds for the full implementation of the law on waste disposal, a municipal mayor whose town has successfully implemented R. A. 9003 said Wednesday.

Sual Mayor John Rodney Arcinue said it does not matter if the area is big or small as long as the administration really puts garbage disposal a priority. “Maliit nga yong volume ng basura namin compared sa Dagupan, siguro times 20. Pero ganon din imultiply mo lang yong pundo at bilang ng tao. Sa amin 12 tao ang naka-assign sa garbage collection and disposal,” he pointed out during the Engkwentro forum of the Pangasinan Press Club at the Jurassic Ark.

Arcinue said that he has given waste disposal a priority in his programs in compliance with the law and the directive as well of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “First warning pa lang sa amin talagang inimplement na naming yong batas,” he said.

The town has achieved “zero waste” status with its materials recovery facility (MRF) used for segregation, recycling and production of organic fertilizer. He said that plastic or sando bags are grinded and used as mix for hollow blocks and paving blocks.

Visitors from five towns with one delegation from as far as Ilocos Sur, he bared, visited the MRF and were impressed with the system. The facility was set up thru the help of the DENR.

“Doable,” he said in answer to a question whether Dagupan can solve its garbage problem given the volume of garbage produced daily and the absence of disposal facilities. “Kung kaya ng Marikina City, ng barangay Bued sa Calasiao, kaya nila yon,” he said. He noted though that some mayors do not give much priority to waste disposal.

In preparation for the expected coming of investors and locators with the completion and operation of the Sual International Seaport, Arcinue said that the town’s training center is targeting 500 trained welders and another 500 sewers. “Mayroon nang 200 na welders, saka 150 na sewers na na-trained namin,” he revealed.

Helping the municipality are Japanese trainers. The training center is accredited by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

He said that construction of the seaport will start this month. The national government thru the Department of Transportation and Communication has pledged P200 million. The province will also shoulder P200 million and Sual, P100 million.

Income-wise, Sual is qualified to become a city with its P126 million budget. It has benefitted financially from the presence of the Sual Coal-fired Power Plant which is now being run by Team Energy. But its 32,000 population is way below the required 100,000 population.

The local executive however dreamed of having his town declared as Port City with the realization of the seaport and the coming of locator-investors. (PIA Pangasinan)