31 August 2005
No ploy, just a process, sez Nick Melecio
SAN JACINTO -- Is the reforestation project here of the water district of Dagupan City just a ploy to attain the real objective of putting up a garbage disposal system long rejected by the local residents?
Environmentalist Nick Melecio brushed off this fear of residents of barangay Awai and surrounding areas saying the proposed landfill disposal system has to undergo a process that should be strictly followed.
While the project is undergoing the process, he said that planting trees in the area now will bring benefits in the long run both to Awai and the city.
The Dagupan City Water District (DCWD) recently entered into a memorandum of agreement with the city to plant trees at the idle land to form a watershed.
The district has been scouting for sources of water for its long-term supply from outside areas because of depleting supply as well as sea water intrusion into the present wells located in the city. Possible areas being considered are this town, San Fabian, Manaoag, Pozorrubio and even San Manuel where the San Roque dam is located.
The reforestation project also got the nod of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under the Adopt a Barangay Reforestation program, Melecio said.
Similar reforestation projects have been successful in the hilly and mountain areas of central-western Pangasinan like the one undertaken by Mayor Benjamin S. Lim and the tree seedling project of second district Congressman Amado T. Espino.
On the landfill waste disposal system, Melecio said that several studies or surveys on geology, hydrology, habitation, topography etc. are involved in the process before the project is implemented. The most important requirement, he said, is the acceptance of the people to be affected or social acceptability. .
After technical studies are made, the city will determine the best use for the area, whether for landfill or as a forest resort as later proposed.
Environmentalist Nick Melecio brushed off this fear of residents of barangay Awai and surrounding areas saying the proposed landfill disposal system has to undergo a process that should be strictly followed.
While the project is undergoing the process, he said that planting trees in the area now will bring benefits in the long run both to Awai and the city.
The Dagupan City Water District (DCWD) recently entered into a memorandum of agreement with the city to plant trees at the idle land to form a watershed.
The district has been scouting for sources of water for its long-term supply from outside areas because of depleting supply as well as sea water intrusion into the present wells located in the city. Possible areas being considered are this town, San Fabian, Manaoag, Pozorrubio and even San Manuel where the San Roque dam is located.
The reforestation project also got the nod of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources under the Adopt a Barangay Reforestation program, Melecio said.
Similar reforestation projects have been successful in the hilly and mountain areas of central-western Pangasinan like the one undertaken by Mayor Benjamin S. Lim and the tree seedling project of second district Congressman Amado T. Espino.
On the landfill waste disposal system, Melecio said that several studies or surveys on geology, hydrology, habitation, topography etc. are involved in the process before the project is implemented. The most important requirement, he said, is the acceptance of the people to be affected or social acceptability. .
After technical studies are made, the city will determine the best use for the area, whether for landfill or as a forest resort as later proposed.
