7 P’panga towns, 2 cities still operate open dumps

SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, Philippines – A non-government organization has formally asked the Office of the Ombudsman to file administrative and criminal cases against “all responsible officials” of seven Pampanga towns and two cities, including this capital city, for allegedly continuing to operate open dumps contrary to law.

In a petition addressed to Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales, Alfonso Dobles Jr., president of the Alliance for the Development of Central Luzon (ADCL), alleged that these local governments could also have “misappropriated public funds to finance such illegal operations.”

Dobles cited findings of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) that an open dump near the anti-lahar megadike in Barangay San Rafael in Guagua town has also served as “disposal area for healthcare wastes.”

The complaint was based on inspections conducted by the ADCL and the EMB in the cities of San Fernando and Angeles and the towns of Guagua, Porac, Sasmuan, Apalit, Macabebe, Masantol, Minalin, and Sto. Tomas.

In a report, the EMB said these local governments, except Angeles City, violated Republic Acts 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act), 9275 and 8749 for operating dumps “directly adjacent to water bodies and where open burning is rampant.”

The EMB said in 2011, it issued notices to these local governments ordering the closure of their open dumps.

In almost all the inspected dumps, the EMB said there was “no indication of an attempt to rehabilitate the open (dumps) such as soil covering, slope grading and effort to make it off limits to the public through fencing of the whole area.”

Open dumps allegedly continue to operate in Barangays Sapang Balen in Mabalacat City, Manuali and Mitla in Porac, Sta. Lucian and Sta. Monica in Sasmuan, Sulipan in Apalit, San Vicente in Macabebe, Bebe Anac in Masantol, Sta. Catalina in Minalin, and San Matias in Sto. Tomas.

The EMB found an open dump in Barangay Margot in Angeles City, but this turned out to be on a private land owned by one Emil Olalla and leased to one Alex Salta.

The EMB urged the filing of appropriate charges against the “erring local government units.”

In his complaint, Dobles lamented that despite what the Constitution and environmental laws guarantee, “the heartbreaking injustice to the environment and to the community continues.”

“At a time when climate change and environmental degradation are burning issues, public officials and employees who blatantly disregard public health and environmental standards in their delivery of duties and res-ponsibilities are clearly liable,” he added.