LAOAC, Pangasinan – Support for the Sangguniang Bayan of this town against the put up of a waste to energy facilityis slowly snowballing after its chairman met with environmental group this week.
This further boosted the morale of vice mayor Nelson Gayo as he expressed optimism in the town’s effort to stop Green Atom Renewable Energy Corporation from putting up its facility in Inmanduyan barangay here.
Green Atom got the nod of the past administration but which the present leaders are trying to put a stop.
“Very much inspired to lead a lowly town in slaying the giant,” the educator-lawyer turned politician earlier told the RNG Luzon.
Environmental advocates this week expressed their support to vice mayor during a consultative meeting to make Laoac as a “model town for zero waste management program.”
In attendance were Cghadli Sadorra ofd No Burn Pilipinas and Break Free Plastic Philippines Project; Becky Tenefrancia and Vicky Bautista of Zero Waste Baguio; Ann and Billie Dumlaiang of Masungi Georeserve.
Last February 24, Gayo and the sangguniang bayan presented his position paper with residents not only of barangay Inmanduyan but also concerned citizens of the town.
Gayo’s paper has recommended for the cancellation of the agreement the past administration inked with Green Atom “for being grossly disadvantageous to the public.”
Gayo likewise said that officials of the past administration who inked the MOA must be prosecuted before a court of law.
He wrote: “After a thorough investigation, concerned public officials must be prosecuted under the law, criminally and administratively, for entering into a contract that is grossly inimical to the interests of the public and the government.”
Among the officials held liable are: barangay officials who “doctored the Barangay Resolution”; the Sangguniang Bayan “who did not comply with their duty in making an endorsement only after public consultation made under Section 27of the Local Government Code”, the former executive officials; and, Department of Environment and Natural Resources who issued the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) “even if condition precedents does not comply with it.”
Gayo also proposed that an injunction will be filed with a court to stop the implementation of the project and object to the issuance of the ECC from the DENR.
Gayo’s 42-page position paper submitted to the municipal council, Gayo argued that the barangay resolution signed by barangay captain Melinda Lim and three of her kagawads was void in the first place.
On May 9, of the same year, Green Atom, through its chairman Lucio Ticman wrote then mayor Silverio Alarcio, Jr. and the municipal council of its desire to put up the facility in Inmanduyan.
On July 31, also that year, the SB under then vice mayor Rolando Ramos approved a resolution that recognized the barangay resolution and the power of the barangay council to approve such as well as a the approval of Green Atom’s proposal to put up the WTE facility in said barangay.
In supporting the proposal, the SB resolution said: “the Sangguniang Bayan of Laoac will always will always be furnished with the result of testing, in-depth study[,] and evaluation by the technical experts of concerned agencies regarding the subject facility.”
Gayo told RNG likewise that he is inspired by the many support he got especially from environment oriented organizations.
Netizen Beatriz Tambayoyong, a Laoac resident, praised the vice mayor for his efforts. In her Facebook comment, she wrote: “Vice mayor Gayo… do your best and god will do the rest… Laoac atin to. Bayan na dapat alagaan hindi basurahan. (Laoac this is ours. A town that we should take care of not waste/garbage). More power to your good office vice.”
