Bulacan Residents Up in Arms Against Dumpsite

Bulacan Residents Up in Arms Against Dumpsite

“How can these officials and businessmen put the health and very lives of our children at risk? They are also destroying the environment in the name of profit.” – Fr. Anacleto Ignacio, parish priest of San Jose del Monte City.
By INA ALLECO R. SILVERIO
Bulatlat.com

MANILA — No to dumpsites, no to corruption.

This was the rallying call of community residents of San Jose del Monte City, Bulacan and their supporters from among the religious when they trooped to the House of Representatives last January 18. They called on legislators to help them stop the construction of a dumpsite, which, they said, was given the go signal by the local city council but was unanimously rejected by the residents.

Accompanied by various religious leaders, the residents said they would continue to fight tooth and nail against the dumpsite project because they know it would pose serious health hazards to those living within the immediate vicinity and would damage Bulacan’s environment. They said there was also the strong possibility that if a dumpsite is built in their area, the water supply of San Jose would be contaminated and be rendered unfit for consumption.

The city councilors approved City Council Resolution No. 2010-154-12, which approved the construction of the landfill in Brgy Minuyan. The site is adjacent to the Water Treatment Plant of San Jose Del Monte Water District, as well as the pipes of the La Mesa Dam Aqueducts. In the said resolution, the continued construction, improvement and operation of the Engineered Sanitary Landfill in Manila Newtown Estate, which is being run by the VG Puyat Group of Companies, was given the green light. Against strong protests of residents, the city council passed the resolution last Dec.1, 2010.

Parish priest Fr. Anacleto Ignacio decried how, even with the obvious health risks, the municipal government allowed the construction of this landfill. “How can these officials and businessmen put the health and very lives of our children at risk? They are also destroying the environment in the name of profit,” he said.

(Photo courtesy of Bro Martin D. Francisco / bulatlat.com)

San Jose del Monte City has a total land area of 31,294 hectares and a population of 830,341 as of 2010. Its population rate is pegged at 10.1 percent, higher than the national percentage of 2.36 percent because of the huge resettlement and housing development projects in the area. It is said that 4,000 families would be immediately affected by the dumpsite project, which has been under protest for the last three years.

Lone District of San Jose Del Monte Rep. Arturo Robes has already denounced the landfill project. He has been at loggerheads with San Jose del Monte city mayor Reynaldo San Pedro. Robles called for a congressional investigation into the issue..... MORE

Source:  Bulatlat

URL: http://bulatlat.com/main/2011/01/21/residents-fighting-tooth-and-nail-against-dumpsite-in-bulacan/