CLOSURE Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda (third from left) inspects the Tagbilaran City dump in Barangay Dampas,which has been closed by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 鈥擫EO UDTOHAN
TAGBILARAN CITY鈥擳he Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Wednesday ordered the closure of this city鈥檚 dump, saying the operation of the 2.6-hectare facility in Barangay Dampas violated the law banning open dumps in the country.
Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, the DENR official overseeing solid waste management and local government concerns, issued a cease-and-desist order (CDO) against the city government for violation of Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Cathelyn Ontong-Torremocha, city administrator, received the CDO.
Segregation
鈥淚t is an opportunity for all of us to really plan to move and do our best as residents of Tagbilaran,鈥� Torremocha said.
Antiporda said solid waste dumped in the city鈥檚 materials recovery facility were not segregated, 鈥渋ndicative of the city鈥檚 failure to implement segregation at source.鈥�
He, however, clarified that the closure of the Tagbilaran dump would be temporary to avoid a garbage crisis in Bohol provincial capital.
Antiporda also assured that the DENR would provide technical assistance to the city government should it seek help on solving its garbage problem.
鈥淔unds are ready for the rehabilitation of the dump,鈥� he said.
Antiporda asked the local government to look for other sites where the city鈥檚 garbage would be dumped, such as the clustered facility in Alburquerque town.
Tagbilaran generates at least 60 tons of garbage daily from the city鈥檚 105,051 households.
Tagbilaran Mayor Baba Yap on Wednesday met with the city鈥檚 15 barangay chairs to discuss the impact of the dump鈥檚 closure.
Lormelyn Claudio, regional director of the Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas, attended the meeting.鈥擫EO UDTOHAN