NEWSFLASH

BATAAN STANDS FOR VALOR AND BEAUTY

Balanga, Bataan, Nov. 26, 2001 - Whenever highlights of World War II are recalled, it's never too far that Bataan and the rich history this province exudes will be mentioned. It could very well be expected that the image of this small island that was once the backdoor of the Filipino's heroism against the invading Japanese Imperial Forces will be remembered, together with the pride and tenacity it symbolized when the fight was finally over.

Bataan is also short-listed as a place rich in beauty and natural resources. Although the island only constitutes a mere 0.5 percent of the total land area of the Philippines, Bataan's 137,296 hectares of land lying in the southwestern part of Central Luzon boasts of natural wild life, virgin forests, in-land falls, and big, wide beach coves surrounded by the clean, white waters of the China Sea. Over the years, Bataan has attracted many local and foreign tourists to discover.

Now imagine the possibility of all those years of building a province that stands for beauty and valor literally gone to waste because of, well, waste-trash.

This is the problem being faced currently by the residents of Bataan, particularly the town of Bagac.

The problem first surfaced in July 1999 when the towns of Bagac and Morong were chosen by the local Bataan government to host the garbage of Metro Manila by providing for a landfill or dump in the area.

The biggest town in Bataan, Bagac, is known for being the focal point of major historical feats and natural wonders in the province. Aside from its commemorative World War II shrines on battle sites and its coastal and marine marvels, the town's white sand beaches and seaside resorts are the foremost destination. To date, there are five beach resorts operating in Bagac, including the well-known Montemar Beach Club Inc.

Even at that early stage there were already those who opposed the idea of a landfill or dump. Members of the Bagac-Morong Resort Owners Association, of which Montemar Beach Club is an active member, was one of the first detractors of the landfill or dump plan. Incidentally, the association's current president, Victoria Gonzalez, is also the president and general manager of Montemar.

“The beaches of Bataan and Morong are just one of the many prides of Bataan,” said Zenaida Ragel, accounting manager of Montemar Beach Club Inc. “We can't just let garbage ruin and pollute such natural wonders,” she added. Montemar Beach Club lies in a 11-hectare cove that's nestled between the hills of Bagac and the pristine waters of South China Sea. Incidentally, Gonzalez, also presides the association.

On the other hand, Jo Galvez of the Mamamayan Laban sa Basura, another concerned group leading the fight against garbage dumping in Bataan, said it was rather ironic that government officials chose Bagac and Morong as the site for the landfill.

“Back then both the Bagac and Morong towns were declared as an eco-tourism area or destination by the Sanggunigang Panlalawigan. It's ironic that these are the very same places they are offering to hold the garbage of Metro Manila,” Galvez said.

Although the issue died a couple of months after a petition rejecting the idea of having a landfill was presented to the Sangguniang Bayan, the problem once again re-surfaced when another plan was made and agreed upon. Instead of a dump or a landfill, a “recycling plant” or an Ecological Waste Management Facility will be built in Bataan.

According to Galvez, the plan of building a recycling plant was practically unknown to the residents of Bagac. In fact, many were surprised when before the May 2001 elections, Municipal Resolution 01-12 Series of 2001 entitled “Willingness to Host an Ecological Waste Management Facility in Barangay Quinawan” was deliberated and approved by the Sangguniang Bayan. This was in March 2001.

Based on this resolution, a company called Waste Management Industries (WMI) will build a church, a schoolhouse, a hospital and roads in Quinawan as well as provide 1,000 jobs to the people of Bagac. In return, WMI will build a recycling plant occupying 300 hectares in Barangay Quinawan.

Galvez said this resolution was approved secretly and without the knowledge and consent of the people. “There were no consultations made, nor a public hearing held. This is an outright violation of the newly enacted Republic Act 9003, also known as the 'Ecological Waste Management Act of 2001.'”

He added only very little information was given about WMI, and that the brochures provided to the public merely contained pictures with very little facts about the plan.

As if adding insult to injury, Victoria Garchitorena, chief of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS), recently announced that President Arroyo had ordered the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to immediately ship garbage from Pier 18 in Manila to Bataan to avert Metro Manila's waste problem.

“The site is going to be very near our shores,” said Ibaretta of Montemar. “This would certainly drive visitors away for who would want to swim in contaminated waters?”

Since the announcement, concerned people's groups and citizens in Bagac have conducted a series of coalitions and rallies.

The most recent rally and so far the biggest was held in front of the municipal town hall in Bagac and was participated in by various multi-sector groups, priests and nuns, professionals, teachers, NGOs, students and other laymen not only from Bagac but from concerned neighboring towns as well.

“All we're asking is for the Sangguniang Bayan to reject the idea of having a dump/landfill disguised as a recycling plant,” Galvez said.

“Bataan is a tourist area and not a dumpsite,” he said. “It's not that we're waging a war against them, but they are the ones in authority to make things happen, including the nullification of the resolution.”

Rustom Tutol, a member of the Mamamayan Laban sa Basura, said “...we're doing this to give light to misinformation that we agreed to host the garbage of Metro Manila.”

The people of Bataan are hoping that their plight and sentiments will be heard by those in authority and finally realize that their province is indeed a site for valor and beauty, not garbage.