By Lane Afable, News Editor
Sta Cruz, Laguna — The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Laguna unanimously opposed the operation of the controversial Calauan landfill during a special session held the other day.
Laguna Vice Governor and Provincial Board Presiding Officer
Magtangol Jose (JM) Carait III announced that ‘no member objected to the committee report nullifying the permit granted by the Sangguniang Bayan of Calauan for the landfill’s development, clearly reflecting the council’s collective stand against the project’.
“The decision followed intensified calls from various sectors, including residents, environmental groups, and stakeholders, who raised concerns over the landfill’s potential impact on the environment, public health, and local livelihoods,” Carait said.
Earlier, Governor Sol Aragones had already expressed her personal opposition to the proposed landfill even before protests escalated.
In an emergency meeting with opposing groups and Provincial Board members, she firmly stated her disapproval of the 84-hectare project in Calauan.
Aragones emphasized the importance of weighing the project’s long-term effects, particularly on agriculture, community safety, and Laguna’s growing eco-tourism sector.
She stressed that development should never come at the expense of the environment and public welfare.
The issue was thoroughly studied by the committee led by Board Members Bong Bejasa and Tutti Caringal, along with Board Member Karla Adajar Lajara, before the recommendation to revoke the project’s permit was formally submitted.
At present, the public continues to closely monitor the provincial government’s next steps to ensure a balance between development and environmental protection.
