THE EcoWaste Coalition, a non-profit environmental health group, has petitioned the national government to order the closure of an illegal municipal dumpsite in Mapandan.

Reacting to the concerns raised by affected residents of Barangay Primicias of this town, the EcoWaste Coalition wrote the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ask for the closure of the open dump and its proper clean-up and rehabilitation.

“We look forward to the immediate issuance of a cease and desist order directing the Office of Mayor Gerald Glenn Tambaoan to halt open dumping in Barangay Primicias and to abide by the requirements of R.A. 9003,” wrote Daniel Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner of the EcoWaste Coalition to DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu and DILG Secretary Eduardo Año.

“The open dump does not fit the good image of Mapandan, which is considered as one of the ‘cleanest, safest and greenest’ municipalities in Pangasinan,” he told the Secretaries.

The open dump is reportedly operated by the local government unit in violation of R.A.9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, that bans the establishment or operation of open dumps.

Section 37 of R.A. 9003, requires the closure of open dumps by February 2004 and controlled dumps by February 2006.

The town’s open dump was reportedly a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) that degenerated into a filthy dumping ground attracting flies and emitting unbearable stench.

“Community residents are worried they will get sick or contract diseases due to the unlawful operation of the open dumpsite,” the EcoWaste Coalition said.

“The law emphasizes waste avoidance and volume reduction through the adoption of best practices in ecological waste management and definitely not open dumping,” Alejandre noted.

 

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