Ayuman has a strong case
The reopening of the Inayawan Sanitary Landfill under the present City Hall administration became controversial several months ago until it was ordered close by the Court of Appeals (CA) following the writ of Kalikasan filed by Councilor Joel Garganera. Following its closure, the City Government opened a transfer station, which became an open dump site at the South Road Properties (SRP), which also became controversial and was ordered close by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR 7).
DENR also closed the sanitary landfill in Aloguinsan being contracted by Jomara Konstruct Inc., the winning bidder for the garbage disposal, for lack of the permits from DENR, especially the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). The one and only legitimate sanitary landfill, which complied with all the requirements, is the one in Consolacion where we dump our garbage.
The controversy of the Inayawan landfill did not stop with court closure order. Apas Barangay Captain Ramil Ayuman filed administrative charges against the “former political has-been” and his wife before the Office of the President for the reopening of the landfill when they assumed office as acting mayor and elected mayor, respectively, despite various violations of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or Republic Act 9003. Ayuman is seeking the respondents’ preventive suspension. In an administrative case there is only a need to establish preponderance of evidence.
Given the background of the issue, there are strong evidences that the respondents’ committed violations. The “former political has-been” had blatantly defied the order of DENR Secretary Gina Lopez for its immediately closure, saying “it’s an environmental bombshell.” Tanaw nako morag madutlan ning tawhana. Maayo noon. Mirisi unya.
*** I received this email from a concern citizen of Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City about the voluminous garbage dumped in their place. Here’s a portion of the letter-complaint.
“Mahitungod kini sa mga basura nga gikolekta sa mga hotels diri sa Barangay Punta
Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City. Nakahatag kini og risgo sa among pagpuyo labi na sa among mga kabataan. Gani daghan na ang mga bata diri nga gipang-ubo. Kini tungod sa kabaho kay ang mga basura nga gikolekta sa among barangay naa ra nila gilabay sa bakanting lote nga daghan ang nanimuyo og usa na kami niana. Mga lima na ka mga bulan kini among pag-antos sa kabaho labi na sa panahon kung ting-ulan.
“Amo na kining gi-reklamo sa among barangay apan walay gihimo ang among kapitan nga si
Lourdes Ibag nga padayon lang gihapon sila paglabay sa mga basura. Ang ka presko sa hangin diri sa among dapit napulihan na sa kabaho ug panahon sa gabi ang bagang duot sa aso ang among mahanggab. Manghinaot ako nga mahatagan og solusyon kining among problema diri sa Sitio Santa Lucia, Barangay Punta Engaño, Lapu-Lapu City. (Is this an open dump site? Paging EMB and DENR. Kindly check on this please.)