TANZA, Cavite — Operatives of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) led by U Secretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Unit Concerns Benny Antiporda and National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) – Environmental Crime Division (ECD) closed an illegal open dumpsite in Barangay Sahud Ulan here, Thursday, January 14, 2021
DENR personnel said the six hectare-open dumpsite (OD) situated in a private land owned by Harmony Homes has been issued a Cease and Desist order from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in violation of Republic Act No. 9003, Presidential Decree 1586 and their implementing rules and regulations.
The operation was led by the NBI-ECD with assistance provided from the line bureaus, field offices and partners of DENR namely from DENR Central Office represented by Antiporda, Environmental Protection and Enforcement Task Force Director Nilo Tamoria, National Bureau of Investigation Environmental Crime Division Chief Eric Nuqui, EcoWaste Coalition Zero Waste Campaigner Eloisa Tolentino, Environmental Management Bureau Solid Waste Management Division Chief Maria Delia Valdez, Cavite PENRO Ronita Unlayao, and Cavite Provincial Environmental Management Officer (PEMO) Adan Umipig.
The dumpsite violated the provisions under the RA 9003 which include open dumping, not ensuring segregation of different types of solid wastes for re-use, recycling and composting; and violating the clean air act as the burning is observed during the operation.
Antiporda wants to close all OD within a year and start adapting to a sanitary landfill (SLF).
“An open dumpsite causes adverse impacts to the environment and to its nearby communities. One of its effect is water pollution, this is when the time that the leachate of the solid waste reaches the ground water. This is where we extract our water use for domestic consumption such as drinking, bathing, cleaning, and washing,” said Antiporda.
“The dumpsite has been subject of numerous complaints mostly from the local residents of Suntrust Ecotown Subdivision and nearby areas. We hope that this operation may give serenity to the local residents who suffered from ill effects of illegal act on open dumpsite,” he added.
In a report provided by DENR Calabarzon, the open dumpsite was spotted by the PEMO of Cavite on September 23, 2020 via aerial drone shot.
“Full force po tayo dito, tuloy-tuloy ang ating trabaho. We’re looking at closing all the open dumpsites within the year. And within the year, makapagpatayo tayo ng mas maraming sanitary landfills, which is the most doable in the meantime,” said Antiporda.
