The Dagupan City government has denied that the closure of a former dumpsite in Barangay Bonuan Gueset caused garbage buildup in nearby areas, saying waste collection and disposal remain in place.

Complaints earlier surfaced about accumulating trash in some barangays, particularly in Bonuan Binloc, following the shutdown of the old dumpsite.

Bernard Cabison, chief of the city’s Waste Management Division, said garbage is being collected and transported directly to a landfill through barangay materials recovery facilities (MRFs), then processed at a private facility in Urdaneta City.

“Ang waste management po ay diretso ang hakot kasi may advise si mayor na maghakot kami direct sa landfill… nahakot na namin ‘yung phase 1 at papunta na kami doon sa phase 2,” Cabison said.

City officials said barangays had been instructed repeatedly not to use the closed dumpsite as a disposal area and to limit its use to 10 percent of its total space as an MRF.

Mayor Belen Fernandez questioned the establishment of additional MRFs if these are not properly utilized.

“Alam niyo ‘yung MRF na ‘yan, nagtayo ulit sila ng isa. Eh ‘yung isang MRF hindi naman nila ginagamit. So what’s the use of putting up more MRF tapos ‘yung basura dina-dump sa dumpsite,” she said.

Cabison said the city has cleared the old dumpsite repeatedly, but garbage tends to accumulate again within days.

“Kung minsan naman ang problema, ‘yung mga segregator nila ang kinukuha nila is ‘yung kalakal tas iniiwan lang ‘yung mixed waste… pagka-clearing natin sa Binloc, four days biglang dumami ulit ‘yung basura,” he said.

The Waste Management Division also suspects that outsiders may be dumping trash in the area, contributing to the buildup.

To address the issue, the city plans to fence off 90 percent of the former dumpsite while rehabilitation efforts are ongoing to prevent further dumping.

Fernandez said barangays must ensure proper waste management practices in line with Republic Act 9003.

“It’s the duty of the barangay to make sure na effective ang kanilang MRF and sumusunod sila sa 9003,” she said.

The local government also urged residents to practice proper waste segregation to support systematic garbage collection.