MANILA, Philippines –
Owners of an illegal dumpsite in Cabuyao, Laguna was served
Wednesday a closure order by Vice President and concurrent Housing and
Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) Chairman Noli 'Kabayan'
De Castro as this was deemed to protect the health of some 8,000
families.
Despite resistance
from around 200 protesters, mostly workers of the Severino Hain Enterprises
Inc., which owns and operates the dumpsite, De Castro personally
handed over the Cease and Desist order issued by Department of Natural
Resources and Environment (DENR) to the owners of the illegal
facility.
With the order, De
Castro said operations of the dumpsite would be terminated. "This
means that starting immediately after I handed the closure order, no
dump trucks would be allowed to enter this facility," De Castro told
the owners.
The owners attempted
to justify confined operation of the dumpsite but De Castro stood firm
on the DENR cease and desist order dated September 6, 2006.
"It is very clear from
the order that the illegal dumpsite has made a lot of violations and
is severely affecting the health and life of the relocatees. This
facility has to be closed now," De Castro said.
Thus, De Castro
instructed PNP Laguna Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Col. Luisito P. De
Leon to make sure that the dumpsite remains closed at all times.
"If possible, I want
you to station your men here just to make sure that the order is being
enforced at all times. I will have this facility monitored," he added.
The facility is
allegedly being used as dumpsite for mixed wastes and is causing
health hazards to residents of the adjacent Southville, the
government's resettlement area for railway families from
Manila,
Makati, and Cabuyao, Laguna.
Despite complaints
from residents and repeated closure orders from DENR and the local
government, the facility reportedly continued to produce leachate
wastes in the dumpsite, detrimental not only to the Southville
relocatees but also the entire Laguna Bay.
"This is why we're
determined to close it now. More would be in danger if the bay gets
affected," he explained.
De Castro also
questioned why the dumpsite has been accommodating wastes from Biñan
and Los Baños when it is located in Cabuyao. He said the dumpsite
should not have been allowed by the local government to operate in
Cabuyao in the first place.
After the closure, De
Castro said a rehabilitation plan should be implemented jointly by the
NHA, DENR and the local government on the facility. These include:
slope finalization, improved perimeter fencing and prescribed covering
for completed cells, daily application of soil covering at the active
area, installation of additional signage, improved operation of
Material Recovery Facility (MRF), decrease the area of active cell,
improved drainage system, improved security measures and installation
of gas vents.
