Victorias City will soon have a new Central Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) at the Old Dumpsite in Barangay XIV, Hda. San Ramon.
The facility is part of the city’s Solid Waste Management Program, and covers 4,500 square meters of land. It will be equipped with a sorting conveyor, a composting facility, and a residual containment area.
“It will be a better facility that will pave the way for a better and more efficient solid waste management solution,” Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez said at the groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 9.
The mayor stressed the need for a “whole city approach” in terms of solid waste management, in addition to the new Central MRF. “Kinahanglan ang atensyon kag bulig ilabi na sa urban barangays, magbinuligay kita tanan for a cleaner Victorias.”
The groundbreaking event was also attended by councilors Dino Jose Maria Acuña, Dexter Senido, and Hermie Millan, Engr. Peter John Mendoza of the 969 807 Construction Corporation, Victorias Community Environment and Natural Resources Office head Lara Ann Garcia, Barangay XIV kagawads Miraluna Casiano and Edwin Rotas, City Administrator Atty. Lindolf De Castro, and department heads and employees.
Benitez also led the inauguration of four new infrastructure projects Aug. 9, including two welcome arches, the newly-improved City Health Laboratory with solar energy system, and public plaza comfort rooms.
The first-ever Victorias City welcome arches were designed by Engr. James Hacksley Villarosa, who won the Welcome Arch Design Contest in August 2022, the city said in a press release Aug. 12.
The design features sugarcane, the city’s main agricultural product, and represents the hard work, persistence, and resilience of the Victoriasanon farmers.
It also displays the iconic landmarks and tourist attractions of the city, such as the Church of the Angry Christ, the Gawahon Eco-Park, and the Victorias City Hall.
Benitez emphasized the importance of establishing a welcome arch that captures the brand and different facets of the city. “This welcome arch is one of the best, if not the best welcome arch that we have, not only in the region but in the country, and I am very proud of it.”
He also revealed plans to further modify the welcome arch, and to install additional AI-powered CCTVs in the area, as well as a digital board that will be installed at the Victorias City Coliseum.
The mayor led the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and unveiling of the marker with councilors Derek Palanca, Senido, Acuña, and Millan.
The Victorias City Health secondary-level laboratory, and the newly installed roof-mounted solar energy system, were also inaugurated.
Multiple machines could operate as the system is powered with 800 watts of solar energy, the city said, adding this is in line with the administration’s vision that all LGU infrastructures are fully powered by renewable energy.
“We are on track to be the first fully-licensed primary care facility sa bilog nga probinsya sang Negros Occidental,” Mayor Javi noted in his speech as he promised the repainting and installment of additional lights at the CHO.
The renovated public restrooms, meanwhile, is part of the ongoing plans to improve and beautify the city public plaza. ||
