Gensan sanitary landfill construction starts

Key officials of the City, DENR, EMB

City officials took the lead in the ceremonial ribbon-cutting which signals the start of construction of 382M Gensan Sanitary Landfill Thursday, April 11, at Barangay Sinawal. The project is situated in a 63-hectare lot; a property that was awarded to the Indigenous People of the said barangay twenty years. Under the agreement with the City Government, the lot shall be used specifically for the waste disposal. The fund shall be sourced out from a loan granted by the World Bank.

"In fulfillment of the laws as well as logically for the protection of the environment in order to ensure the livability and sustainability for generations to come, I congratulate each and everyone who has put in their duty, time, their efforts, their skills and energy for finally coming up with the approved design and uumpisahan na din", said Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio.

Mayor Darlene Antonino-Custodio:I congratulate each and everyone...

She also praise and thanked the Project Implementation Unit headed by City Planning and Development Officer Engr. Yael Cruspero for coming up with the best design that suits the needs of the city as well as the nearby provinces.

This is the first sanitary landfill in the region which also sees to cater the needs of the surrounding places due to its wide area and big capacity. It will be showcased as a model landfill in the region where different LGU's could visit for an educational tour, said Datu Tungko M. Saikol, Regional Executive Director of DENR XII.

Atty. Juan Miguel Cuna, Director of Environmental Management Bureau, commended the leadership of the city amid it problems it encountered pushing it through. "Nagpapasalamat po kami na bagamat dito sa Heneral Santos at nagkaroon ng matagal na panahon para maituloy po ang landfill na ito, finally po nangyari. Pare-pareho po ang mga suliranin pagdating sa landfill. Walang space, maraming oppositor, maraming mga problema pero dito nagpapasalamat ako at binabati ko ang Lunsod ng Heneral Santos na finally, maitutuloy na po", he said. He assured the city officials that his office is willing to provide technical assistance and education for its success.

Atty. Juan Miguel Cuna, Director of Environmental Management Bureau, praised the officials of the City for this significant project.

Long Overdue

"This project has long been overdue", according to Congressman Pedro Acharon, Jr. He stressed that it's not just an issue about dumpsite, but also a "health concern, an important aspect of city development and nation-building." Though many don't understand the importance of a sanitary landfill they would continue to pursue projects that they deem are important for their constituents even unpopular, he added.

Benefits of the IPs

When the LGU starts to operate, two percent of its gross income shall be given to the IPs in a form of tangible projects and livelihood programs. Under the Design-Build-Operate-Transfer Scheme, the contractors will manage the operation of the landfill for a period of 18 months, and then it will be turned over to the LGU.

The project is expected to be complete and fully operational in December this year. The contractor is R-II Builders/PhilEcology Systems Corporation with the help of Woodfields Consultants Inc. They also built the sanitary landfill in Boracay. They assured the local government that they will finish the project on time with quality and meet all the tedious requirements set by the PIU.

The project is located in Brgy. Sinawal.