DENR’s crackdown on pollution targets illegal dumpsites

Just when everybody thought the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is mostly about catching the bad guys in the mining sector, Environment Chief Roy Cimatu decided to extend his crackdown on the operators of illegal dumpsites across the country, mostly of which are government officials.

Cimatu said the DENR will close a total of 500 illegal dumpsites before the term of President Rodrigo Duterte ends in 2022 because they pose serious public health threats and adverse environmental impacts.

This, according to him, is part of the agency's intensified enforcement of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) which specifically mandates all, especially local government units (LGUs), to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program.

As a start, the DENR will shut down over 50 illegal dumpsites across the country before the end of the year.

"All our decisions at the DENR are taken with focus on the protection of the environment and the welfare of the general public," Cimatu said.

Cimatu issued this statement following the DENR's decision to deny the request of the Quezon City government to reopen the Payatas sanitary landfill, citing serious environmental violations and susceptibility to trash slide.

Cimatu lamented that a lot of LGUs still maintain open dumpsites, which are prohibited under RA 9003.

Aside from closing down the dumpsites, Cimatu said the DENR will also press charges against LGU executives who allow the continued operation of open dumpsites in their localities.

"RA 9003 gives prime importance to the roles of LGUs in managing solid wastes. They are primarily responsible for the law's implementation, not the DENR," Cimatu said.

"The DENR's role is limited to monitoring the compliance of LGUs with the law," he pointed out.

RA 9003 is not something that usually comes out of DENR statements. This supposedly directs LGUs to utilize environmentally sound methods; set targets and guidelines for solid waste avoidance and reduction; and ensure proper segregation, collection, transport and storage of solid waste; among others.

In the past year or so, DENR's crackdown on pollution had zoomed in towards former Environment Secretary Regina Paz Lopez's fight against illegal mining. Hence, the much talked about Philippine Mining Act and the calls to amend it.

Upon taking over the DENR, Cimatu did not immediately address concerns at the mining sector which have since piled up shortly after Lopez left.

Instead, he opted to take a look at the worsening garbage situation in Boracay Island which has become a major public health and environmental concern in one of the country's most popular tourist destinations.

He then said that DENR will come up with concrete measures on air pollution and waste management in the country.