Cuerpo threatens to stop dumping at landfill anew

Angered by accusations that the leachate discharge in the Montalban creek was merely “set up,” Rodriguez, Rizal Mayor Pedro Cuerpo threatened anew to stop the dumping of garbage at the landfill hosted by his municipality.

Cuerpo said he would urge the municipal council to come up with resolutions banning the dumping of garbage at the landfill until they are given assurance that no leachate from waste goes to waterways.

Cuerpo broke into tears during a recent meeting with reporters when he was told of accusations that the leachate issue was just “set up.”

Cuerpo’s reaction came amid findings by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) that there was no leachate discharge in the Montalban creek.

The DENR-Region 4 and the EMB jointly tested water samples from the Montalban creek after the municipal government claimed that leachate had leaked into waterways, thus endangering the lives of residents.

The probe team noted that the landfill has a leachate pond, which was still around two feet below its maximum level.

Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza said even the Laguna Lake Development Authority debunked the alleged leachate discharge.

“The operation of the sanitary landfill is to continue because there’s no violation at this point in time,” he said.

Rizal Gov. Casimiro Ynares III lauded the DENR for its speedy investigation into the alleged leachate leak.

“The conclusion of the probe puts the matter to rest and allows for the resumption of unhindered operation of the Rizal provincial landfill,” he said.

Ynares said the provincial government will impose stricter measures on the landfill operator to ensure the protection and safety of the environment and the communities living near the facility.

“We do not have to wait for anything untoward to happen. The landfill operator must ensure that the facility is safe and is adequately secured and protected from any attempt by potential saboteurs,” he said. – With Katherine Adraneda