‘Chemical waste dumping in Marilao not the first in Bulacan’

The dumping of chemical wastes that downed around 60 people, including children, in Marilao, Bulacan early Tuesday was not the first time that it has happened.

According to initial information gathered by environment investigators, the disposal of toxic waste in an irrigation canal in Barangay Sta. Rosa I has allegedly been a "practice," but that the last incident may have involved a greater volume, thus causing many people to fall ill.

"This information was revealed by residents during interview. They claimed that this chemical waste dumping is being done even before," an environment official, requesting anonymity, said.

"The last one, however, was allegedly too much... and the smell too strong," the source added.

As this developed, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) Environment Management Bureau (EMB) in Region 3 is serving a Notice of Violation (NOV) against Carlos Clemente, the reported owner of the property where the used mixed oil was dumped.

EMB director for Central Luzon Lormelyn Claudio said Clemente could be held liable for the incident under Republic Act 6969, or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act.

Claudio also said that they would submit their report to the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) over the weekend to determine appropriate action, including penalties and fines, against those behind the illegal dumping of chemical wastes in Marilao.

Claudio earlier said an NOV had already been served on Evelyn Sto. Tomas, the reported owner of the 10-wheeler-truck that dumped the used mixed oil in Barangay Sta. Rosa I.

The truck driver and his crew, who were apprehended by authorities hours after dumping the chemical waste, remain behind bars in Marilao.

On the other hand, a possible NOV against CFS Corp., which reportedly contracted the truck to dispose of waste products from a plastic manufacturing firm, would be served by the DENR’s EMB in the National Capital Region since the waste treatment company is located in Valenzuela City.

Meanwhile, Claudio announced that the contamination was already contained, adding that fish pens and aquaculture in the towns of Meycauayan and Obando are therefore no longer under threat of contamination.

For Bulakeños, ecological disasters like what happened in Marilao were the consequences of grinding poverty and loose implementation of environmental laws.

Isagani Giron of the Samahang Pangkasaysayan ng Bulacan (Sampaka) told The STAR that dumping hazardous wastes in an irrigation canal in Marilao is easy money, and anybody could be lured into doing it due to poverty.

Residents said it was not the first time that Marilao, or Bulacan for that matter, had been a dumping site for hazardous waste.

About six years ago, Marilao town became controversial after environment and local officials apprehended a truck that disposed of hazardous and hospital wastes at a dumpsite owned by a former barangay official in Brgy. Sta. Rosa II.

It was followed by the disposal of drums of chemicals by a Metro Manila-based textile company at another dumpsite in San Jose Del Monte City in 2002, which caused the hospitalization of a number of residents. — With Dino Balabo