DENR ultimatum on 'trashslide' probe out

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY— The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has set a one-week ultimatum on the fact-finding team to complete its investigation on the circumstances surrounding the trash slide at the Irisan open dumpsite recently.

Six people were killed after being buried in tons of garbage that flowed down the dumpsite when its retaining wall collapsed at the height of rains spawned by typhoon “Mina.”

Cordillera DENR regional director Clarence Baguilat issued the directive to the fact-finding team composed of technical people from the different bureaus of the agency
upon the instructions of Environment Sec. Ramon Paje.

The DENR Secretary, Baguilat said, wants a swift probe to pave the way for the formulation of appropriate policies that will govern the operation and subsequent closure of open dumpsites in the country.

The team was also tasked to come out with its general and special recommendations on the vital measures to be undertaken to protect the open dumpsite from further collapse that will pose a serious threat to life and limb below it.

“They are already on the ground. We want to make a comprehensive report relative to the trash slide so that our central office will be able to craft the appropriate policies that will govern the operation and closure of open dumpsites nationwide,” Paquito Moreno, Jr., regional director of the Cordillera office of the Environmental Management Bureau here said.

Moreno said the report, which will be generated from the investigation, will be immediately submitted to the National Solid Waste Commission, the body tasked to decide on the imposition of penalties against local governments who continue to refuse to close their open dumpsites.

On the filing of administrative charges against local officials who refuse to close the operation of their respective open dumpsites pursuant to the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, Moreno said it is the NSWC that it is empowered by law to determine the liabilities of local officials considering that there is no explicit sanction to be imposed against public officials who refuse to close their open dumpsites.