DENR-Region 1 closes four Dagupan open dumpsites
BECAUSE OF SUSPENSION OF W2W
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) decided not to wait for Dagupan City Mayor Brian Lim to make up his mind whether to pursue the Waste to Worth project as a condition to allow the continued operation of the open dumpsites in the city.
It issued a cease and desist order (CDO) on December 11 closing all four dumpsites located in different parts of the city.
The CDO signed by Regional Director Engr. Maria Doricanaz-Hipe and addressed to Mayor Brian C. Lim, stated that “lest we be (sic) charged for dereliction of duty, you are hereby ORDERED to immediately implement closure and to CEASE AND DESIST from utilizing the area (referring to the four dumpsites) as your solid waste disposal facility.”
Ordered closed as of December 11 were the Bonuan Binloc Dumpsite, the Lucao Open Dumpsite, the Bacayao Sur Open Dumpsites, and the Dagupan City Controlled 4.5- hectare Dumpsite Eco Park in Bonuan Gueset,
The dumpsites in Lucao, Bacayao Sur and Binloc are actually material recovery facilities where wastes are segregated but already used as open dumpsites.
The CDO was received by the city mayor’s office on December 11 and subsequently delivered to the Barangay chairmen of Bacayao Sur and Binloc.
But Lucao Barangay Chairman Marcelino Fernandez denied receiving copy of the letter but only learned about the CDO from City Waste Management Officer Bernard Cabison.
Cabison told the SP on Wednesday that a DENR official who conducted the inspection of the MRFs recommended steps that could be taken for the CDO to be lifted.
A technical conference on the CDO was set by the DENR at its regional office in La Union last December 19 where Mayor Lim or his representative was invited.
The CDO stemmed from the report of the Provincial Environment Monitoring Unit that Dagupan was still operating the four open dumpsites in violation of Section 37 of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act.
About a month ago, National Waste Management Commissioner Crispian Lao warned the city council of the possible inclusion of Dagupan in the next batch of LGUs to be sued for violating Republic Act No. 9003.
He said Dagupan was spared in 2018 because of its Waste to Worth planned program. (Leonardo Micua)
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