Eco group warns City Hall of suit over dumpsite
Environmental group, Global Legal Action on Climate Change (GLACC) is warning City Hall it could be sued for maintaining an open dumpsite.
But Mayor Jerry Treñas is unfazed, saying that the City will not close the dumpsite in Brgy. Calajunan, Mandurriao district.
“We have observed that our City has not complied with the provisions of the Law on Solid Waste Management: Maintenance of an Open Dumpsite at Brgy. Calajunan, Mandurriao, Iloilo City since 2001 despite the enactment and passage of RA 9003,” the GLACC-Iloilo chapter said in its July 7, 2009 letter to Treñas, a copy of which was obtained by The News Today.
“We respectfully request that you take measures to correct the situation within thirty (30) days from receipt of this letter,” the group further said in its letter.
The letter, respectful it may of Treñas, warned the mayor “that should no serious effort be taken by your Office to correct the situation we will indorse the matter to the Office of the Environmental Ombudsman for its appropriate action and we will also file appropriate actions before competent Court to compel your Office to comply with the provisions of RA 9003.”
“It’s okay. We will answer the complaint,” the Mayor said in a text message.
“The DENR has given its nod for the continued operation of the dumpsite,” the Mayor said in a phone interview. “It’s okay with me, we’ll just answer that,” he stressed.
The 30-day period ticked off Wednesday, when the Office of the Mayor received the letter.
Copies of the letter were furnished to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources regional office 6, the Office of the Environmental Ombudsman, and the punong barangay of Calajunan, where the City had been maintaining its open dumpsite for several years already.
At the same time, the GLACC is also requesting DENR to monitor City Hall’s compliance, and to submit to them a report on the extent of the City’s compliance with the Solid Waste Management Act.
The letter is a follow up on the earlier request by the group on the different government agencies for the enforcement of the country’s environmental laws, which highlighted the local celebration of the World Environment Day last June 5.