ILOILO City – Quarantine facilities in the metropolis are accumulating truckloads of wastes.
According to Engr. Neil Ravena, head of the city government’s General Services Office (GSO), their personnel are collecting between 600 to 800 tons of wastes daily from over 10 schools and hotels turned isolation centers for persons suspected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Most of these wastes, deemed disease-causing, are facemasks, personal toiletries and food packaging, said Ravena.
Every Monday, Ravena said, they could collect as much as 1.5 tons of waste generated over the weekend.
The city’s step-up facility, St. Therese Hospital, and the quarantine facility at Jaro National High School produce the most wastes, he added.
During collection, GSO personnel have to wear a complete set of personal protective equipment and two sets of gloves Ravena added.
The wastes are being disposed at the city’s sanitary landfill in Barangay Calajunan, Mandurriao district.
The wastes have to be treated first through autoclaving and placed in a container for sterilization before being buried in the sanitary landfill./PN
