by Susan Aro

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet, Wednesday March 23 – The Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) of the province is hopeful that the proposed residual containment area (RCA) in the municipality of Atok will have the approval of the public.


A public consultation will be held on March 25 at Caliking, Atok with residents, officials, and other stakeholders to convince the populace to support the waste management program.


This is an avenue to get their consent for the establishment of an RCA along Saddle, Caliking in Atok and to get their inputs and suggestions.


The proposed site has an area of 900 square meters but could expand if the need arises, according to the ENRO.


Portions could also be used to compost vegetable wastes or the so called ‘ubak’ which are commonly piled along the Halsema Highway.


According to the ENRO, the RCA will be temporarily used to dump waste while looking for an area to establish an engineered sanitary landfill as required for local government units to comply with.
Republic Act 9003 otherwise known as the Solid Waste Management Act mandates LGUs to establish its own sanitary landfill.


According to the ENRO, there is a difficulty in locating for an area to establish an RCA due to the province’s topographic features of rolling terrain.


Areas found suitable are where water sources are also located, the ENRO reported. This is aggravated by the difficulty in obtaining social acceptability of the people.



The province is currently looking for an RCA model for better appreciation of townsfolk. **(PIA CAR)