Lawmaker wants toxic waste ‘blame game’ to stop
February 3, 2011
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Fourth District Board Member Nestor Tolentino on Monday called for an end to the “finger pointing” and “blame game” regarding the alleged toxic waste buildup in the rivers of Macabebe.
During the Provincial Board’s regular session, Tolentino, chairman of the august body’s Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, delivered a privileged speech, where he urged the concerned local government units to amicably settle the issue and find solutions instead, rather than “passing the bucket” regarding the reported toxic waste problem.
The alarm was first sounded off by Macabebe Mayor Annette Balgan, who pointed to the City of San Fernando as the source of the toxic waste.
City of San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez denied that the city is the sole source of the waste, hinting that much of it comes from neighboring Angeles City, which Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan refuted. Later, a resident claimed that the main source of the waste were the fourth district towns themselves.
In calling for the immediate resolution of the issue, Tolentino said: “It is but sad that we find local government units in the province pointing fingers at each other and passing the blame on a certain issue that concerns the environment. We all know our Governor Lilia Pineda is concerned about health, in relation to the environment and solid and liquid waste management.”
The lawmaker noted that Balgan “is just right in taking a stand and admitting to the toxic wastes in her town, and that it was a bold move to say something was wrong in her hometown.”
He said that all that happened was to “pass the bucket” on the issue. “Some other towns in the province were likewise implicated to be the sources of toxic wastes,” Tolentino added.
Tolentino called on everyone, not just the LGUs, involved in the issue to focus instead on finding solutions instead of dwelling on the issues. “I call on you, my dear colleagues that we further unite in our fight against solid and liquid wastes by supporting legislations on environmental management. Environmental care is everybody’s concern,” said Tolentino.
He said the environment committee is poised to summon and convene all municipal environmental management boards or committees this week to thresh out the issue. A hearing will also be set with provincial officials and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Meanwhile, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (Penro) chief Art Punzalan announced that he has tasked technical environment assistants to properly document via video and photographs the alleged toxic waste buildup and its sources.
“After all this has been properly documented, we could then conduct a joint investigation with concerned units and officials,” said Punzalan.
‘I was right’
In an interview with Sun.Star Pampanga during the City of San Fernando’s Kaganapan 2011 celebrations kick-off, Rodriguez said he was right and stands firmly by his previous statements.
He stressed that he is not lying. First he pointed out that the water in San Fernando comes down from Angeles, hence nobody would believe Mayor Pamintuan if he says otherwise. Rodriguez also said Mayor Balgan’s similar claim is wrong. “Hindi ako nagkamali noong sabihin kong hindi lang sa San Fernando nanggagaling ang problema (I did not make a mistake when I said San Fernando is not the source of the problem alone).”
In a separate interview last week, Pamintuan, however, reiterated that the toxic waste does not come from the city, which is more of an entertainment center than an industrial hub.
But Rodriguez further disclosed that he has ordered the closure of some poultry farms that do not comply with environmental laws, particularly on waste water treatment.
He emphasized that it’s impossible for Macabebe to be affected by anything in the water coming from San Fernando as Macabebe is a long way off, and the body of water that passes there is the Pampanga River, whereas San Fernando’s water flows into the Mapalad Creek, then Federosa, until the third river near Federosa, and then it eventually flows down along the north and western portion of Minalin, flows all the way down beside the Francisco River, all the way to Pasag, Guagua.
“Kilometro ang layo ng dinadaluyan ng tubig galing sa San Fernando (Water from San Fernando travels a kilometer), in as far as Macabebe is concerned,” concluded Rodriguez. (Jovi T. De Leon)
Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/pampanga/local-news/lawmaker-wants-toxic-waste-blame-game-stop
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