THE DUMAGUETE City Council approved last week a resolution authorizing Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo to enter into and sign the contract for the purchase of a private lot to be used as sanitary landfill site. The vote was five in favor, one against, and three abstentions, after deliberations for the purchase of the 30,530-square meter lot, near a housing subdivision, at a price of P615 per square meter. The lone ‘no’ vote came from Councilor Agustin Miguel A. Perdices, who contended that a qualified majority is needed on this ruling, considering the big amount of money involved, which is about P18.78 million. However, Councilor Manuel R. Arbon countered that a simple majority is enough because the amount was already appropriated in a previously approved ordinance. The site is situated more than 100 meters away from the Bloomington housing site, and 300 to 400 meters away from the waterway. Mr. Arbon said a technical working group, of which he is the chairman, is expecting opposition to the proposed site due to misconceptions that the city is merely transferring the dump site to another site, but still within Barangay Candau-ay. Mr. Arbon said the city government is running against time with no other possible area that can accommodate an average of 60 to 70 tons of garbage daily. He added that a comprehensive information campaign should be conducted to address the misconception that a sanitary landfill, like an open dump site, emits foul odor and poses health hazards. — The Freeman

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