JICA to rehab Boracay’s dumpsite

BY ALBERT DARIA

BORACAY - The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) solid waste management experts are conducting a feasibility study to rehabilitate Boracay’s dumpsite in Brgy. Balabag. The initial study and site visit was scheduled November 21 to December 11, 2006.
The Japanese consultants, headed by Kyoko Okubo, visited several sites in Malay and government agencies that are related to their study. Okubo said the team conducted a series of discussions with the Municipality of Malay and the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) in drafting the Implementing Arrangement for the Master Plan on Solid Waste Management for Boracay Island and Malay Municipality.
“Aside from rehabilitating the old dumpsite in Boracay, we will prepare a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan and we will also prepare engineering design and cost estimation for the proposed sanitary landfill in the mainland Malay,” says Okubo. “In addition, the team will also formulate a plan for Boracay’s Centralized Materials Recovery Facility,” she added.
Atty. Zoilo Andin, Jr., Executive Director of the NSWMC, suggested to the JICA team to make a comprehensive study plan that will include both solid waste and wastewater. However, Japanese experts stressed that their study is limited only to solid waste management.
The project will be implemented by the Municipality of Malay and NSWMC and will be providing the JICA Team a counterpart personnel and office space with furniture, air-conditioning, telephone lines and electricity.
The JICA team emphasized the importance of capacity development both for the Municipality of Malay and NSWMC. The team is expecting NSWMC to utilize their Master Plan to support other local government units.
JICA aims to advance international cooperation through the sharing of knowledge and experience and to build a more peaceful and prosperous world.