DENR orders closure of six dumpsites

The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-EMB) in Region IV-A issued recently an authority to close (ATC) to six controlled dumpsites in the CALABARZON area.

The owners of the controlled dumpsites had applied for ATCs in compliance with the provisions of Republic Act 9003 (RA 9003), otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which prohibits the operation of open and controlled dumpsites. The law mandates the closure of such dumpsites this year and their conversion to a more environment-friendly and safe sanitary landfill.

The dumpsites that have been issued with ATCs are located in Bgy. San Antonio, San, Pedro, Laguna; Bgy. Niugan and Bgy. Banlic in Cabuyao, Laguna; Bgy. Pasong Camachile and Pasong Kawayan in Gen. Trias, Cavite and Bgy. Tinurik, Tabauan, Batangas City.

According to EMB-IV-A regional director Sixto E. Tolentino Jr., open dumpsites are operated and used with the least consideration to environmental protection.

Sanitary landfilling is a method of disposing waste on land without creating nuisance or hazards to public safety or health, by utilizing sound principles of engineering to confine the refuse to the smallest practical volume, and to cover it with a layer of earth at the end of each day’s operation or at more frequent intervals as may be necessary.

Tolentino likewise lauded his solid waste management team that conducted a series of advocacy campaigns and ecological solid waste management summits in the different provinces and municipalities down to the barangays for the positive response to RA 9003. He added that the campaigns were supported by the local DENR field offices, the PG-ENROs and the National Solid Waste Management Commission.