EMB-7 to conduct water sampling around landfill

CEBU, Philippines - The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 will conduct water sampling in the surrounding areas of Inayawan Landfill for suspected water contamination.

Although the fire at the landfill was already contained, another health risk was feared from contaminated water that might have leaked in the landfill’s surrounding areas.

EMB-7 regional technical director Rolando Luego said that the water sampling will start next week after the whole area is refilled.

Luego said that EMB is now completing its investigation into the fire incident from which they will formulate a report and recommendations to be submitted to the DENR central office.

He said that the Cebu City government violated certain provisions of the Environmental Compliance Certificate.

One of the violations is the failure of the city to establish a Multipartite Monitoring Team that will monitor the compliance of the landfill with the environmental requirements.

Another is the failure to prevent scavengers from coming to the area.

The EMB is investigating the city if it has complied with the Environmental Impact Assessment Law, Ecological Solid Waste Management Law, Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, among other laws, over the landfill’s operations.

Luego said that the EMB cannot impose sanctions on the city because the ECC for Inayawan Landfill was issued by the DENR secretary himself in 1993.

The EMB-7 will just have to monitor, investigate and submit reports to its central office, which has the sole authority to issue any administrative action against the city.

EMB regional solid waste management coordinator Amancio S. Dongcoy said that the city already installed gas vents or perforated pipes in the area to let the methane gas come out. He said that it has always been their proposal to the city, which was only done now.

The installation of gas vents, Dongcoy said, will not only prevent another fire but can also help the city generate its own source of energy from methane gas that can be converted into a clean fuel. - Jessica Ann R. Pareja/LPM   (THE FREEMAN)