CITY OF SAN FERNANDO---The municipal officials of San Simon town are now under an in-depth fact-finding investigation, along with 70 other officials in Central Luzon, by the office if the Ombudsman in their operation of illegal dumpsites.
Investigators from the Environmental Ombudsman Program directed San Simon officials along with those from Abucay, Bataan; Paombong and Hagonoy in Bulacan; and San Isidro and Jaen in Nueva Ecija to attend the series of clarificatory hearings this August to explain "possible violation of the law."
The fact-finding investigation is a result of the cases forwarded to the Ombudsman by the National Solid Waste Management Commission on local government units who have, despite repeated reminders, continue to operate open dumpsites.
Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera told Sun.Star Pampanga that they are looking into 50 local government units all of which are under investigation for open dumpsite operations. Mosquera said that the 50 cases, including San Simon town, are the most recalcitrant local government units.
The fact-finding investigation is being conducted as part of the national campaign to ensure compliance with the Republic Act. No. 9003 (Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000).
It will be recalled that last May 2016, the Ombudsman Environmental team successfully caused the closure of three open dumpsites in the Visayas.
Upon receipt of the complaint filed by the National Solid Waste Management Commission in February this year, the Environmental Ombudsman gave local officials a non-extendable period of 30 days within which to submit their explanation and a Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan (SCRP) which must include a proposal to immediately close the open dumpsite.
The Environmental Ombudsman also ordered the local officials to detail the specific tasks, activities and legislative action to be completed within six months of the SCRP implementation.
Environmental Ombudsman National Focal Person Myla Teologio, however, noted that the officials who have been operating illegal dumpsites and have promised to comply with the closure of such facilities are not yet off the hook.
"As far as the law is concerned they have been in violation of the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Act," Teologio added.
Under its mandate, the Environmental Ombudsman Team headed by the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon shall investigate complaints filed against any environmental protection official and employee and recommend the imposition of appropriate penalties and filing of criminal indictments.
After the fact-finding investigation, the panel shall recommend possible legal action against the subject government officials. The Ombudsman is also set to hear other cases involving illegal dumpsites and open dumpsites masquerading as material recovery facilities.
"It does not mean that a local government unit is not on the first 50 cases they are no longer included. We are taking these first 50 cases first for lack of manpower. But there will be more," Mosquera said.