THE Local Government of Bacolod has formed a special project task force to beautify the vacant lots in various areas in the city as measure to prevent the illegal dumping of garbage.The task force is composed of personnel from Task Force Basura, City Engineer’s Office and General Services Office.Wilfredo Geolingo, head of Task Force Basura, said Monday, March 28, that the task force will identify the vacant lots in various barangays and they will develop it so that the residents will not illegally dump their garbage.“We will beautify the vacant lots or we can make a garden so it can be useful for the residents of Bacolod,” he said.Geolingo noted that from January to March, about 15 individuals in the city were given a first warning for illegally dumping their garbage in the vacant lots and highways in the city.He said most of the violators were pedicab or tricycle drivers who were hired by the homeowners to dump their garbage.“These drivers were just looking for a vacant lot to dump the garbage, which is a violation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,” he said.He said under the law, the violators will be fined P500, or do community service if they commit similar offense.The task force also urged the barangay officials to always check their material recovery facility (MRF) and place it in the proper area.Geolingo said the MRF should not be placed beside the road because some of the residents just dumped their garbage at the MRF.He said they are now coordinating with the barangay officials to remove their MRF placed beside the road.“It’s not a garbage receptacle (MRF), it’s a solid waste transfer or sorting station,” he added.