Residents of Barangay Pagatpat, Cagayan de Oro City have raised concerns over the foul odor and the sudden swarm of flies allegedly coming from a temporary transfer station established by the city’s current garbage collection contractor.
Barangay Chairman Achilles Babaran said residents began complaining about three days ago when they noticed the unpleasant smell and fly infestation in the area.
“Three days ago, nagsugod ang reklamo sa atong mga residente kay lagi ang palibot medyo aduna na’y gapanimaho and adunay mga langaw. Gani apil pud ang traffic kay ga-occupy man sila nga side park kay diha sila ga-parking so gaka one-way na ang dalan,” Babaran said.
GMA Regional TV One Mindanao visited the area and noticed that the foul odor was not constant but could still be detected occasionally. Flies were also present, though not in large numbers.
Residents shared mix reactions about the temporary transfer station near their homes.
“Syempre baho gud kana bitaw magkaon ta,” a resident, Emil Maños, said.
“Ambot lang pud sa uban pero og sa ako ang ingon ani nga kahimtang wala man pud ko’y namatikdan nga baho gawas sa langaw kay daan naman gyud ning langaw,” another resident, Jose Bahade, added.
The contractor explained that the temporary transfer station was put up to speed up garbage collection from different barangays in the city.
However, due to the difficult road access leading to the sanitary landfill in Barangay Pagalungan, garbage trucks are often delayed in unloading collected waste, causing trash to pile up at the transfer station.
“Normally, kini kay basura man, then pila ka adlaw nana napundo, siguro sa syudad pagkuha ana nagbasa na so naa na gyud baho so syempre ang langaw mubaho o muhumot muanha man gyud sya,” Babaran said.
During a dialogue between the barangay council and the contractor’s representative, both parties agreed to consider halting the dumping of garbage in the compound to prevent health risks to residents residents.
The contractor also assured that it will address the problem in the area.
