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Sunday, April 18, 2004
We're closely guarding Magalang dump: DENR
By Dante M. Fabian
MAGALANG, Pampanga -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Saturday vowed to ensure that the Sto. Rosario Controlled Dump Facility will not cause contamination and health risks to residents.
A DENR regional official said that the agency will make local officials, headed by Mayor Pastor Guiao, to comply with the provisions of the Clean Air Act in operating the Sto. Rosario Controlled Dump Facility.
Belly Cabezo, DENR solid waste management task force leader, said they are monitoring the local government in its compliance with the Clean Air Act when operating the dump facility.
Cabezo said DENR will prosecute local government officials who violate laws on government's solid waste management programs and ecological conservation.
She said that under an agreement signed with the DENR, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines will provide free legal services in prosecuting violators of environmental laws.
Cabezo went to the Sto. Rosario Controlled Dump Facility last Friday to conduct another inspection and o assess the implementation of recommended remedies to make the dumpsite meet the standard for controlled dumpsites.
She said that she is personally monitoring the implementation of an action plan containing the recommended measures to make the dumpsite comply with the technical requirements imposed by RA 9003.
Cabezo suggested the action plan in a technical conference at the DENR Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in the City of San Fernando last April 2.
The Sto. Rosario barangay councilors, who are seeking for the closure of the dumpsite, rejected the action plan, saying this will further subvert the will of the people to stop the illegal dumpsite.
Cabezo said that continuous consultations shall be made by the local government to address the concerns of the community.
In a recent inspection, Cabezo found out that the project, supposedly a Controlled Dumpsite Facility, was operating "similar to open dumping" and emitting stinking odor.
In a report to Lormelyn Claudio, DENR-EMB regional director, Cabezo apprised Claudio of her findings in a site inspection at the 2.8 hectare land intended for the composting and dumpsite facility conducted last March 29.
The report disclosed that the dumpsite was fenced with concrete on three sides except on the north side that is fenced with only an earth dike.
Cabezo reported finding a covered Material Recovery-Composting Facility (MRF), an office combined with a guardhouse already constructed complete with electrical facilities.
She added that the MRF or composting facility is not yet operational.
According to Cabezo, the LGU started using the Controlled Dumpsite Facility since October 2003 upon closure of the old dumpsite along Quitangil River at Barangay San Agustin.
She noted that although the facility is equipped with a bulldozer and a backhoe, "there was no indication of soil covering made on the garbage dumped" in it.
Magalang officials claimed that the garbage is covered with soil everyday at the end of the dumping activities saying that Cabezo inspected the site at noontime.
Cabezo said that the DENR regional office will conduct regular checks on the dumpsite to monitor the actions taken by the local government.
(April 18, 2004 issue)
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