THE sanitary landfill in the northern town of Consolacion will remain closed until its operator, Asian Energy Systems Corp., corrects lapses and violations that endanger people’s lives and public health.
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7 Director William Cuñado told SunStar Cebu that the operator might have paid the P100,000 penalty, but the cease and desist order (CDO) will remain in effect until the rehabilitation of the landfill is completed.
“Since a person has already died in the Consolacion sanitary landfill, its owners must submit to us the complete details on how they operate. This will be submitted to evaluation and inspection,” Cuñado said.
The EMB 7 has already found Asian Energy Systems Corp. in violation of Presidential Decree (PD) 1586 of the Philippine Environment Impact Statement System, and Republic Act (RA) 9275, or the Philippine Clean Air Act of 2004.
Aside from the violations of PD 1586 and RA 9275, Cuñado said Asian Energy Systems Corp. must also correct its wastewater disposal because it failed to pass the tolerable limit set by the Clean Water Act.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources 7 Executive Director Gilbert Gonzales said local government units that dump their garbage in the Consolacion landfill will have to find an alternative dumping spot.
Consolacion and the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu have started throwing their solid waste in the sanitary landfill in Binaliw, a mountain barangay in Cebu City.
Cuñado said the Binaliw facility, which is owned by ARN Builders Corp., has an area of 14 hectares.
“The Binaliw landfill is operational and is accepting domestic wastes under a segregation system. They have invited Cebu City councilors to witness their operation and they all said that it’s good,” he said.
Outgoing Cebu City Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. who lives in the neighboring barangay of Agsungot claimed that many were left landless when the Binaliw landfill was established.
However, Cuñado said that when ARN Builders applied for permits, it presented deeds of sale of lands. (EOB)