DENR orders probe into Manila Bay waste dumping
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has ordered an investigation into the alleged dumping of solid waste into Manila Bay from the marine loading transfer station of garbage disposal firm Philippine Ecology System Corp. (PHILECO).
“It would be in the public interest to hold a full investigation to determine the liability of PHILECO to the fullest extent possible,” Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said in a Thursday statement, referring to PHILECO’s Vitas Marine Loading Station ( VMLS) at Pier 18 in Tondo, Manila.
The VMLS functions as a transfer facility for waste collected in Metro Manila. The waste materials, in turn, are transported by barge to the 40-hectare Navotas Sanitary Landfill, which is also operated by PHILECO.
A notice of adverse findings from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) dated Sept. 25 noted several violations of the conditions in the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) that had been issued to PHILECO for the VMLS, according to the statement.
The EMB said PHILECO failed to meet the eff luent standards for phosphate and total suspended solids and discharged untreated wastewater directly into the bay.
“The situation here is similar to Payatas, which is why Payatas was ordered closed,” Mr. Cimatu said, referring to the Quezon City Sanitary Landfill which was shut down in August due after multiple environmental violations.
Mr. Cimatu said the DENR is now looking into imposing higher fines and more stringent penalties against companies and other entities that violate environmental laws.
“Let me reiterate that we need to have a mechanism that determines the full compensation cost for the damage arising from environmental crimes, including violations of ECC conditionalities,” he added.
The agency in the notice summoned PHILECO officials to a technical conference on Oct. 3 to discuss the issue.
The notice of adverse findings was a result of the compliance monitoring inspection conducted on Aug. 9 by a team of local DENR off icers.
PHILECO was asked for comment on Thursday but has not responded as of press time. —