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City mayors deny presence of open dumps

February 3, 2011

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Despite a closure order from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), Pampanga city mayors are denying the existence of open dump sites in their areas.
In separate interviews, this city’s Mayor Oscar Rodriguez and Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, both said the open dump sites in their areas have already been closed as mandated by the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2001 (Republic Act 9003).
“I have already closed all open dumpsites here since I assumed office,” Rodriguez said.
“The DENR-EMB did not issue a closure order for any Angeles dump site and we no longer have one in the city. What we have here is a transfer station, or a material recovery facility (MRF) in Barangay Pampang,” Pamintuan said.

However, in an order dated January 17, EMB Regional Director Lormelyn Claudio recommended the execution of closure orders for open dump sites in 16 Pampanga towns including Angeles City and the City of San Fernando.

The letter recommends “the immediate execution of the closure orders after all available remedies to inform and draw the local government unit’s (LGU) compliance were carried out…the LGUs failed to truly demonstrate their will to close the existing open and controlled dump sites.”

To remedy the situation, the EMB suggested the issuance of notices of violation, seminars to provide technical assistance focused on the rehabilitation of all its existing dump sites, and the issuance of cease-and-desist orders and final notices.
The recommendation letter was sent to Ricardo Calderon, chief of the DENR in Central Luzon and Environment Assistant Secretary Analiza Teh.

Aside from the two cities, non-complying LGUs also include Arayat, Floridablanca, Guagua, Mabalacat, Macabebe, Magalang, Masantol, Mexico, Minalin, Porac, San Luis, Sasmuan, Sta. Ana and Sto. Tomas.
Rodriguez said his city has the most proper practice of collecting and dumping garbage since they have a materials recovery facility in Barangay Lara.
“San Fernando has the most proper practice of disposing residual waste because we already have a structure. We are just waiting for our partner firm to collect enough residual waste that can be transformed into energy or electricity,” Rodriguez said.

Meanwhile, Pamintuan said that after segregation at the MRF, they take the garbage to the sanitary landfill in Montalban, Rizal, or at times to the Kalangitan Sanitary Landfill in Capas, Tarlac.
For his part, the chairman of Barangay Balibago said there is no open dump site in his village and that the tons of garbage produced in the city can be found on the side of Barangay Duquit in the nearby town of Mabalacat.

Mamac was accompanied by Pamintuan during an inspection conducted at an old dump site along a creek in Sitio Hadrian that connects Barangays Balibago and Duquit in Mabalacat.
The village chief showed Pamintuan the development at the sitio, including the rehabilitation of the Hadrian part of the creek, the removal of garbage and the establishment of a material recovery facility in the area.
They’re everywhere

When Sun.Star Pampanga asked Auxiliary Bishop Pablo Virgilio David on the existence of open dumpsites, he said they were everywhere.
David is among the top Kapampangan environmentalists and is known for his effort of saving Sapang Balen, Angeles City’s historical river, from total destruction.
“My group can give you a guided tour where the dump sites of Pampanga are. Every municipality has one,” David said.

However, David admitted it is not easy for municipalities and cities in the province to close such dump sites.
“It is not easy, though. I think there should be a province-wide environmental summit where towns and cities of Pampanga can concert their efforts to follow the law,” David said. (Reynaldo Navales and Charlene Cayabyab)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/city-mayors-deny-presence-open-dumps

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