Barangay officials of Matungao in Bulakan share their concern on the supposedly Material Recovery Facility (MRF) meant to recover recyclable materials that has turned into a dumpsite today. Residents have also expressed their disappointment.
MATUNGAO BULAKAN, BULACAN– During the administration of Barangay Chairman Methelyn Nahil, the never-ending problem of waste in the barangay became a major focus. She and her other barangay officials, as well as the locals, saw this as one of the most serious and long-standing issues in the community.
Bulakan's municipality also contributes to fight this. They've offered assistance by sending garbage trucks and allocating a specific time and day for each district’s garbage collection.
Garbage trucks and compactors turnover, last March 2021 at Bulakan. (Photo courtesy of Mayor Vergel Meneses' Facebook page/ Vergel Meneses, Laking Bulacan)
Regardless, concerned barangay residents hope that additional waste collection days will be added to the week. Garbage pickup on a weekly basis is insufficient. It also became the reason why people resorted to burning or dumping their trash in open areas.
Matungao’s garbage truck roaming around on Thursday, May 26, 2022.
Aside from the overflowing waste, the barangay says it lacks support from the inhabitants, which makes it much more difficult to cater.
Au Villafuerte, the Barangay Secretary, shared that they always encourage residents to practice proper segregation to fully fulfill barangay’s Segregation and Waste Management (SWM) programs– through orientation and mass education. Unfortunately, not everyone is enthusiastic, and some people are still unable to put what they have learned into practice.
Barangay Matungao strives to be the town's one of the most proactive barangay. Cleaning up drives are part of the process. Every Saturday, all barangay officials are required to join the said drive.
Barangay's May 2022 calendar.
In spite of the long-term projects and programs meant to control this, the MRF of barangay could testify that it still doesn't work.
Photo courtesy of Mr. Charles Nahil, behind him is Matungao's MRF (2021) situation.
All local government units must adopt a sustainable Solid Waste Management (SWM) Program that reuses, recycles, and reduces solid wastes pursuant Republic Act 9003 or also known as the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000”.
Section 32 of the act (Establishment of LGU Materials Recovery Facility) states that, every barangay or cluster of barangays must develop a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). The facility will be built on land owned or leased by the barangay, or in any acceptable open area determined by the barangay's Sanggunian.
Mixed trash will be brought to the MRF for ultimate sorting, segregation, composting, and recycling. The leftover wastes must then be transported to a long-term storage or disposal facility or a sanitary landfill.
However, Nahil believes that the MRF of Matungao brought compound garbage woes. The provision of the law is not being properly implemented by the barangay. Managing it is one of the greatest challenges of her term.
“Actually, hindi dapat tambakan ng basura [ang MRF] kundi tatanggalin ang mga hindi maaaring irecycle tapos ang matitira ang ilalagak sa compactor. Kaya nga 'material recovery' ", she added.
Photo courtesy of Google Street View, May 2022.
The MRF is situated between Matungao and Barangay Panginay on the national highway. Located beside this is Camella Bulakan–a 13.2-hectare house and lot development.
“Pangit sa mga dumadaan lalo kapag hindi nahahakot [ang basura] atsaka na sa gilid ng Camella”, she stated.
Nahil also made clear that she communicates with Camella Bulakan's administration on a regular basis in order to fix difficulties and inconveniences around the community brought by the MRF.
She went on to say that the growth of houses, lots, and factories in the vicinity were fast, leaving the barangay with little time to respond.
“Sa katunayan ang MRF naitayo na bago pa magkaroon ng Camella”, she added.
They were unprepared because they didn't have that much time to conduct planning and allocating an area for the MRF's relocation.
“Noong una na wala pa kaming MRF. Ang nangyayari noon ‘yong mismong truck (compactor) ay kinukuha [ang basura] sa kada street na dumadaan at doon na lang [direktang] tinatapon ngunit naging sanhi ito ng malaking abala sa daan at traffic”, she explained.
Thus, the development of MRF in the barangay fixed their first difficulty but in return, it included more complications to the core issue.
Residents in the neighborhood also became concerned about the MRF. Apart from the overflowing waste, one of the households who requested anonymity said that the location also creates foul smells, sticky leaks, and pests.
Photo courtesy of Google Street View, May 2022.
Consequently, some enterprises also relocated to new locations. A small business owner described this experience as “malaking abala” to them.
Roadside litter is also one of the major concerns. Thus, peace and order officers from the barangay continue to patrol the facility to ensure its safety.
Photo taken on June 3, 2022.
“Mayroon kasing taga-ibang barangay na nagtatapon sa madaling araw. Kung kailan nakasara na ang MRF–inilalagay lang nila ito sa labas at paligid ng MRF. Dahil dito kumakalat ang basura sa kalye… Isa pa, hindi lang ito mga basura kundi balahibo ng manok, bitu-bituka ng hayop o kaya patay na aso na nakasako”, according to the chairman herself.
The barangay's provision allows violators to pay a fine and perform community service. However, as the number of violators keeps climbing, this is still unsatisfactory.
Photo courtesy of Google Map, 2022 and Councilor Madlangsakay.
It got alarming when even the barangay was unable to control the situation. In addition, Nahil stated that they had received countless complaints about this. The volume of waste in the premises continues to grow unmanageable, hence it was already surrounded by roofs today.
“Binago na nga ang MRF. Dati open 'yon, ngayon sinarado na para hindi pangit tingnan. May mga mababahong itinatapon sa labas. kahit anong gawing paglilinis ay maski nahuhuli ganoon pa rin ang ginagawa.", she disclosed.
Despite the seemingly endless hurdles, barangay officials are optimistic that the situation will be resolved soon. They hoped, "Kaunting pukpok pa."
Photo taken on May 28, 2022 at the office of Barangay Matungao.
When asked about the plans that are still in place for the next few months, Nahil answered, “Mailipat ang MRF sa medyo tagong [at malawak] na lugar kasi medyo pangit sa mga dumadaan lalo kapag hindi nabubuhat. Motivation [din] natin na magamit ang MRF bilang recovery facility talaga.”
It may, sooner or later, serve its true purpose. She has continued to ask for her constituents' participation and accountability from 2017 until this year, 2022.
“Mayroong basurang hindi kailangan itapon, marami rito ang mapakikinabangan pa”, she firmly said.
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