MINERVA BC NEWMAN
CEBU CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB7) here issued Cease-and-Desist (CDO) or Closure Orders against two municipalities in Central Visayas, Monday January 25 for the continued operation of open dumpsites.
The CDOs and the closure/padlocking of the open dumpsites were simultaneously served to the local government units (LGUs) of Carmen in Cebu and Guindulman in Bohol for the continued operations of their respective open dumpsites at Barangay Luyang in Carmen and in Barangay Kamonggayan, Catungawan Sur in Guindulman.
Pepito said that eventually cases will be filed against them because the CDOs were also forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman.
Pepito went on that the issuance of the CDOs meant that the disposal of any type of garbage or waste is no longer allowed at the dumpsite and any person or entity who shall act in contravention of the closure order shall be liable to the law.
According to the DENR-EMB7 officials that the concerned LGUs have long been advised to conduct immediate rehabilitation of the area following the general guideline stipulated in the Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan (SCRP) of open dumpsites and controlled dump facilities stipulated in Department Administrative Order No.9 series of 2006.
The closure done at Carmen, Cebu was participated by EMB7 Regional Director Lormelyn Claudio and her team--DENR7 Regional Executive Director Paquito Melicor Jr. and representatives of the PENRO and CENRO Offices.
Before the actual closure of the dumpsites in Carmen and Guindulam, DENR-7 Officials had a meeting with mayor Carlo Villamor and mayor Maria Fe Piezas respectively with some of their department heads to discuss thoroughly the CDO; current state of the their solid waste management; possible options for proper disposal and the next steps to take to be able to comply with the DENR mandates.
EMB7 said that since 2018, the bureau had continually communicated with the LGU of Carmen. Its first CDO issued was in March 2018 and another letter was sent to the respondent last March 2020 reiterating the closure of its dumpsite and resubmission of its SCRP but still to no avail. EMB7 noted that the Carmen open dumpsite is located beside the Luyang River.
In the case of Guindulman, DENR-EMB7 said that on March 3, 2020 it sent a Semi-Annual Compliance Report to Guindulman Municipality directing them to immediately cease and desist from operating its dumpsite and further directing it to implement its SCRP.
On April 1, 2020 EMB7 conducted a follow-up inspection and found that respondent continued to operate its dumpsite and no closure and rehabilitation undertakings were done despite the CDO issued by the office.
According to EMB7 there were enough time given to both LGUs but they failed and continued to ignore the CDOs, hence the final closure and lockdown of those open dumpsites.
After the closure, EMB7 said that both LGUs were now very cooperative and expressed their eagerness to work together with DENR7 for the establishment of a comprehensive Solid Waste Management in their community as mandated in RA 9003.
EMB7 on the other hand pledged to provide technical assistance to these LGUs as they try to manage their municipal wastes comprehensively and properly adhering to the DENR Standards; and series of information and education campaigns will also be conducted in the coming days to enhance cooperation from the public on proper waste segregation from the household source, Pepito told the Manila Bulletin. (Photos: EMB7/Cindylyn Pepito)
No comments:
Post a Comment