2 arrested in Mandaue for breaking waste law

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City Solid Waste Management Team Office (SWMT) arrested two persons for violating the Republic Act No. 9003, known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Placido Jerusalem, 46, the head of the Solid Waste Management team filed cases against Felix Tamarra, 30, married and Gil Pilapil, 40, married. Both are residents of sitio Suba, Poblacion, Liloan town.

Both were caught in August this year transporting unsegregated garbage to the Umapad dumpsite.

The arrest was in response to the order of Mayor Jonas Cortes to intensify the campaign against violators of the Solid Waste Management law.

In his affidavit, Jerusalem said last August 10, he and his team were conducting a daily routine inspection of the city dumpsite in barangay Umapad when they chanced upon an Isuzu Elf truck with plate No. GPV-515 owned by Leonardo Geraldez of Camella Homes, Lapu-Lapu City.

The truck was driven by Tamarra who was accompanied by Pilapil, his assistant.

The vehicle was fully loaded with waste and it was about to be unloaded into the dumpsite.

It was found out the truck owner does not have permits which authorizes him to haul and dispose of their waste into the dumpsite.

For failure to show such documents, Tamarra and Pilapil were arrested and turned over to the Opao police station.

Their vehicle was seized and was placed under the custody of the Solid Waste Management office.

Aside from Tamarra and Pilapil, a separate case was filed against Geraldez for violation of city ordinance No. 2001-02, an ordinance establishing and prescribing rules and procedures for proper solid waste management and disposal of garbage. The ordinance carries penalties.

Another case was also filed against Geraldez for violation of Section 48 of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

The criminal cases filed against the three are now pending at the Municipal Trial Court in Cities Branch 3 in Mandaue.

Mayor Jonas Cortes ordered the closure of the Umapad open dumpsite in June 5, 2009 in compliance with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or R.A 9003 and ordered all 27 barangays in the city to segregate their garbage and come up with a Material Recovery Facility (MRF). (FREEMAN)