The Environment Management Bureau has issued notices of violations to all local government units in Negros Oriental except only for Bayawan City, for failure to establish sanitary landfills in violation of RA 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
The LGUs were penalized ranging from P500,000 to P2.5 million.
Dumaguete City, which has been issued the notice of violation “for the nth time” specifically for violation of paragraphs 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 15 of Section 48, was fined P2,514,000.
Dumaguete was penalized for littering, throwing, dumping of waste matters in public places, such as roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros or parks, and establishment, or causing or permitting the same, open burning of solid wastes, causing or permitting the collection of non-segregated or unsorted waste, squatting in open dumps and landfills, among others.
EMB Region 18 Director Engr. Sophie Manuel on Thursday said a field inspection and investigation was conducted by EMB personnel from the Region on March 18 at the garbage dumpsite in Candau-ay to verify persistent reports of violations of the provisions of RA 9003.
Other findings showed unauthorized removal of recyclable materials intended for collection by authorized persons, open dumping, burying of biodegradable or non-biodegradable materials in a flood-prone area, establishment or operation of open dumps as enjoined in RA 9003, construction of an establishment within 200 meters from the open dumps or controlled dumps or sanitary landfill, and the construction of operation of landfills or any waste disposal facility or any aquifer, groundwater reservoir or watershed area and or any portions thereof.
As a result of the findings of the technical committee, EMB has directed the concerned LGUs including Dumaguete City to explain in writing within seven days upon receipt of the notice of violation why they should not be penalized.
Meanwhile, Lloyd Patrimonio, provincial environmental management officer of the EMB in Negros Oriental, said all LGUs that were issued notice of violations have been invited to attend a technical conference on March 30 at the PENRO office in Dumaguete City to discuss compliance to environmental laws.
Patrimonio said compliance of the RA 9003 is long overdue and that the LGUs concerned will be given a chance to explain why such has been delayed.
Patrimonio, meanwhile, said Bais City, which established a sanitary landfill, was also issued a notice of violation after inspectors found its operation backsliding to an open dump site, even if it has established other components such as the establishment of a leachate treatment pond.
No more open dumpsites are allowed to operate at this time, he said.
Patrimonio enjoined LGUs concerned that while operating a controlled dumpsite, it should have started a closure plan, to include perimeter enclosure, among others.
He said he believes this is a great challenge for Dumaguete due to the lack of space to operate a sanitary landfill, while plans are afoot to organize neighboring municipalities into clusters to minimize the cost. (JFP/JG)
