By Dominic B. dela Cruz (Staff Reporter)
Laoag City—"Everybody should understand that Laoag City is among the few cities in the Region left without a comprehensive waste segregation program. This is the reason why we are also left with no choice but to act fast and immediately fast track the implementation of the program, and subsequently open the sanitary landfill in Barangay Balatong”.
Laoag Mayor Michael M. Keon made this announcement after the city government received a “Notice of Violation” from the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) for the closure of the existing open dumpsite at Brgy. Lagui Sail, this city.
In relation to this, Keon thanked Brgy. 7 Nra. Sra. De Natividad led by chairperson Henry L. Yumul for immediately implementing the said program along with various initiatives and “best practices”.
Mr. Yumul personally presented to Keon—during the mayor’s visit—their own waste segregation plans and programs showing their 22 strategic dropping points, or pick-up points, for garbage and proposed 22 compost pits.
Prior to coming up with the plan, Mr. Yumul and other Brgy. 7 officials first conducted a consultative meeting with residents before they came up with the plan and the scheme to implement them.
They gave each Brgy. 7 household information, education and campaign materials with demonstration on the proper waste segregation.
Keon said this national program started a long time ago but the city government’s previous administrations have not fully and strictly implemented it.
The neophyte mayor hopes other barangays will follow Brgy. 7’s actions on waste segregation.
Keon also visited and consulted with vendors at the Laoag City public market regarding market operations and the waste segregation program.
He also thanked the market vendors for their immediate implementation of the said program.
“Idawdawat ko met iti naan-anay a suporta ken kooperasyon dagiti mapan aggatang iti tiendaan a sumurot kadagiti pagalagadan a maiyetnag pakaseknan daytoy a programa tapnu mamentenar iti kinadalus ti aglawlaw ken agballaygi daytoy a ganwat”, Keon stressed.