The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will press charges against two mayors in Luzon in connection with the operation of illegal open dumpsites.
DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda identified the two mayors as Mayor Norberto Gamboa of Sta. Ana, Pampanga; and Mayor Julio Parayno III of Urdaneta, Pangasinan.
"Expect nga po na within May, pinipilit po namin na mai-file na yung kaso ng Sta. Ana dito sa Pampanga at sa Urdaneta, Pangasinan (Expect that within May, we will press for the filing of charges regarding Sta. Ana in Pampanga and Urdaneta, Pangasinan)," Antiporda said Friday, May 21 during a virtual news forum held by the National Press Club (NPC).
Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 prohibits the existence and operations of open dumpsites in the Philippines.
Asked by the forum moderator if the mayors and subordinate officials of the local government units (LGUs) would be included on the charge sheet, Antiporda replied: "Yes. Of course. Ganun po ang gagawin natin. Lahat po kakasuhan natin (That’s what we will do. We will charge them all)."
"Panahon na po para magising tayo na ang basura ay hindi tine-take for granted (It's about time we realize that the garbage problem shouldn't be taken for granted)," he said.
Back in January, DENR Secretary Roy Cimatu tasked Antiporda to close down all illegal open dumpsites in the country. The latter quickly went to work.
The undersecretary bared Friday that the last known operating open dumpsite in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental had been shut down.
He said that officials found in violation of RA 9003 would immediately get suspended for one year. "Tatlong taon lang po ang termino ng alkalde. Malaki mawawala sa inyong sweldo (A mayor only has a three-year term. You will have lost a huge portion of your accumulated salary)," he noted.
Antiporda said the emergence of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic last year slowed down the filing of charges against erring local executives.
"Since mayroon tayong pandemic, hindi po ganun kabilis ang aksyon po ng ating mga...counterpart agencies. Kaya medyo nade-delay po tayo dyan. Pero tuloy-tuloy po yung pagfa-file natin ng kaso (Since we're dealing with the pandemic, our counterpart agencies incurred difficulties and delays. But rest assured that the filing of cases will continue)," said the former NPC president-turned-DENR official.