MANILA - The Commission on Audit (COA) has told the local government of Baguio City to attend to its worsening waste disposal problem which has cost P472.462 million from 2011 to 2017.

In their 2017 audit report on Baguio City, currently led by Mayor Mauricio Domogan, government auditors noted the lack of a suitable area for a solid waste management disposal facility, contrary to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

It was noted that while the law allows open dumps as temporary disposal sites, local governments shall develop sanitary landfills as final disposal sites of solid as well as residual waste.

The General Service Office - Solid Waste Management Division of Baguio City (GSO-SWMD) said it is studying the offer of Benguet Corporation of a site in Antamok for the establishment of an Integrated Solid Waste Management System Facility (ISWMSF).

“We have recommended that management hasten or fast track the study and the possible negotiation between the city and Benguet Corporation so as to immediately establish the ISWMSF,” the COA said.

The GSO-SWMD also said they had an initial plan of putting up a facility in Mt. Sto. Tomas but it had to be stopped because of resistance from the community.

The city has to get the services of companies due to the petition for a Writ of Kalikasan that was filed against the city and the eventual issuance of a Temporary Environment Protection Order by the Supreme Court.

In 2017, the city spent P82 million on hauling and tipping fees for 56,000 tons of garbage, a huge leap from previous years when waste hauled totaled around 50,000 tons per year.

“These annual disbursements could have been used for more significant development projects of the city,” the COA said.

Still, the COA commended the city government for its efforts to reduce waste in Baguio City.

“Nevertheless, we commend the city in exerting all its effort in encouraging the residents of the city, thru intensive information education campaign, solid waste reduction practices in order to minimize the number of tons of wastes hauled out from the city,” the COA said.

The city government also said it was looking at measures to lower disposal costs.