CEBU CITY – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region 7 (Central Visayas) (DENR-7) on Wednesday shut down a garbage transfer station in the former sanitary landfill in Barangay Inayawan here for failure to dispose waste within 24 hours, and slapped the operator with P105,000 fine.
Paquito Melicor Jr., officer in charge regional director of DENR-7, sent a notice of violation coupled with cease and desist order to John Javier, owner of Docast Construction, a private garbage hauler hired by the Cebu City government to transport waste materials from the transfer station in Inayawan to the sanitary landfill in Barangay Binaliw, still in this city.
“On July 5, 2021, an inspection was conducted by our field personnel on your transfer station located in White Road, Inayawan, Cebu City. Based on the inspection report, it was found out that the wastes therein were stored beyond 24-hours already, in violation of section 25 of Republic Act 9003,” the notice read.
The inspection team, according to the notice, observed that the wastes have already reached 10.8-meter high and essentially makes it an “open dumpsite” which is prohibited under the law.
There was no waste-water treatment facility installed in the transfer station, the resolution also read.
The agency also directed the company to install roofing to prevent direct exposure of wastes to rain and natural elements, as well as a wastewater treatment facility.
In a media report, Javier denied that his firm has unpaid dues to ARN, saying he was even ready to settle things with the landfill operator.
ARN’s legal counsel, lawyer Elias Espinoza, said the firm has not settled its obligations of P18.67 million.