Promises Made and Broken

SOMETHING SMELLS

Negros Daily Bulletin

By Agnes T. Jalandoni

They say you can tell much about a man by the promises he keeps. Our politicians have elevated the art of making promises and not keeping them into an art. 

As the city prepares its own landfill it would be good for us to monitor how our local officials plan to complete this project. Since the Bacolod Anti Baha Alliance was formed in Nov. 2007, garbage has been found to be one of the major causes of flooding. As the monitoring and research efforts of the group intensified, it became necessary to track how our city handles garbage and more importantly, where it is thrown. On Oct. 26, 2008 when the residents of Brgy. Felisa barricaded their streets to prevent 19 garbage trucks from delivering garbage to the open dump, the Anti- Baha Alliance reacted. Not only were the residents treated unfairly, but they revealed that their community was promised a controlled dump and dealt another. They did not want to be taken for another ride. 

Before we forget about this dramatic confrontation, the underlying issues and disastrous consequences of our not fully knowing the facts, let us remember that we owe the residents of Brgy. Felisa big time. Why? Because they have agreed to accept every single piece of basura we have thrown since January 19, 2005! Now the city plans to put up a landfill in the adjacent area, more basura will be dumped! What if it was your own back yard being filled with garbage?

The truth of the matter is, after the closure of the Mandalagan dump in 2004, Arlene Dalawis of DENR Region 6 issued a “Notice to Proceed” to Mayor Leonardia authorizing the city to operate a CONTROLLED dumpsite in Purok Acacia, Brgy. Felisa. The residents even recalled their being brought to Bais on a field trip to see how a controlled dumpsite is operated. Inspired by what they saw they were optimistic that what the Mayor had promised- that the city would operate a similar controlled dump would be done. They showed us a picture of the inauguration where the streamer heralded the opening of the “Controlled Dumpsite.” Broken promise! For three years, the residents watched helplessly as truck after truck wantonly dumped non- segregated garbage into the open dumpsite. Worse, the dump slowly polluted the adjacent Cabura Creek where once their children bathed and their carabaos drank. The site is 15 meters from the Cabura creek and is not the required minimum of 50 meters away. No wonder they took to the streets. 

As early as Nov. 7, 2005, the DENR issued a Cease and Desist Order (CDO) to Bacolod City preventing continued open dumping of garbage in Brgy. Felisa. This detail was mentioned in the letter of DENR Reg. Director Bienvenido Lipayon to Mayor Evelio Leonardia dated Sept. 17, 2008. Why were the mitigating measures needed to operate a controlled dump not complied with then? It was bad enough that the area did not start operating as a controlled dump. Yet, when warned, the city did not make the necessary corrections. 

How can we believe that the city will close and rehabilitate the existing dump as prescribed? Worse, can our officials prepare a landfill correctly when they could not make good on their promise to Brgy. Felisa residents? The safe closure and rehabilitation plan for the existing dump has already been submitted by the City to the DENR. 

Last Nov. 3, 2008, the Anti - Baha Alliance met with DENR Regional Executive Director Lormelyn Claudio to clarify the issues raised by Brgy. Felisa residents. During the discussion, the timetable of the Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan was referred to. Dir. Claudio who admitted that the first item in the plan, which was the clearing of the dumpsite by Oct. 2008 was not accomplished as scheduled. 

Another promise broken - too soon. 

As custodians of our welfare and environment, our city officials were elected to enforce the laws, comply with plans they themselves submit, and simply, just make good on their promises. In a recent interview in the Banat Baha TV show, Councilor Greg Gasataya said that they are beginning to comply with the plan. A few days later, the local papers reported that Mayor Bing and our city officials go on another field trip to San Carlos City to look at the landfill of the city. 

It’s the same thing all over again. Promises, promises, promises.*