'Magkakasukatan?': DENR gives Baste 5 days to explain waste-dumping at Davao region office
By Jel Santos
At A Glance
- In a statement, the DENR said Mayor Duterte has been given five days to respond to the agency's letter, copies of which were also furnished to senior DENR officials and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
(Photo: Sebastian Duterte Facebook page)
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has given Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte five days to explain recent waste-dumping incidents outside its Region XI office, while separately filing a criminal complaint against the owner of a vehicle allegedly used to dump mixed waste at the site.
In a statement, the DENR said Mayor Duterte has been given five days to respond to the agency’s letter, copies of which were also furnished to senior DENR officials and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
Regional Executive Director Mercedes Dumagan, in a June 15 letter, asked the mayor to explain the incidents after DENR personnel intercepted several individuals dumping mixed waste outside the agency’s Lanang office. The DENR said some of those apprehended referred to the mayor’s June 4 Facebook post describing the compound as a temporary waste collection point.
According to the DENR, the waste dumped at the site appeared to include commercial refuse and was found to be unsegregated, contrary to the provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
“We are clarifying how these incidents came about and reiterating the importance of proper waste handling and compliance with established procedures,” she said in a statement.
She stressed that the identification of waste collection areas must be undertaken in accordance with the city’s approved Solid Waste Management Plan and the IRR of RA 9003.
“Our goal is to ensure that waste collection areas are properly designated and consistent with the city’s plan,” Dumagan stated.
The DENR said it is also coordinating with the Philippine National Police (PNP) to identify other trucks and vehicles seen in the area during the reported dumping incidents.
Dumagan also initiated a separate complaint after a Mitsubishi Xpander was seen on CCTV footage unloading sacks of mixed waste at the DENR office.
“We are addressing individual incidents as well, including the vehicle seen on video. These steps help ensure accountability while the city continues to manage the impacts of the landfill suspension,” she added.
The landfill has been temporarily closed since the May 20 trash-slide incident that left several people dead. The DENR said the complaint and the request for clarification are part of ongoing efforts to ensure orderly waste management as the city continues to deal with the impact of the closure.