ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas proposes to cover the sanitary landfill in Barangay Calajunan, Mandurriao district with ash from the coal-fired power plant operated by Panay Energy Development Corporation (PEDC).
His idea is to use the ash as a “cover system” to reduce exposure to contaminants in the landfill.
Treñas requested the City Council to pass a resolution authorizing him to enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with PEDC.
The agreement would permit the disposal of ash from the coal-fired power plant to be utilized as a “cover system” for the sanitary landfill.
This initiative is designed to “reduce exposure to contaminants and manage the risk brought about by the waste thereat,” thereby addressing environmental and public health concerns associated with landfill operations.
“The cover system will also reduce order and air emissions; control disease vectors; prevent insect infestation; and aid in decomposition,” the mayor’s letter read.
The City Council referred the mayor’s letter to the Committee on Public Service, Environmental Protection, and Ecology for review and recommendation.
Under the proposed agreement, PEDC will dump about 40,000 cubic meters per year into the landfill for the next three years.
PEDC stressed the ash produced by the power plant will comply with the provisions in the guidelines for the safe handling, storage, transport, disposal, and off-site utilization of coal combustion residual issued by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).
PEDC said they will also provide qualified, trained, experienced, and competent personnel for the proper handling of ash.
The ash hauler is responsible and liable for the welfare and all acts or omissions of its personnel; and maintains strict discipline and good order amongst its personnel loading, transporting, storing, handling, or disposing of ash.
The hauler will also be responsible for any emergency response and clean-up during spills, or contamination of the environment including accountability for payment of damages incurred during any incident of spill and contamination during transport of the ash.
PEDC also assured the ash will be disposed of at the designated area of the landfill. Hence, a disposal other than the designated area shall be considered as a material breach of the terms and conditions under the MOA.
PEDC said they will also be responsible for any emergency response and clean-up during spills, or contamination of the environment including accountability for payment of damages incurred during any incident of spill and contamination during transport of the ash.
On the other hand, the city government will secure a barangay resolution indicating no objection to the use of ash as backfill material in the area, or a certificate from the local government unit.
The city government will be responsible for the supervision and implementation of environmental management protection and mitigating measures in relation to risks attributed to the disposal and management of ash.
The city will also be responsible for any emergency response and clean-up during spills, or contamination of the environment including accountability for payment of damages incurred during any incident of spill and contamination at any time after the ash has been delivered./PN