EMB finds ECC violations of city’s transfer station

CEBU, Philippines - The Environmental Management Bureau-7 has cited four violations of the Environmental Compliance Certificate committed by the Evo Enviro Solutions, Inc. in the operation of a transfer station in Barangay Inayawan, Cebu City.

In a 10-page inspection report noted by EMB-7 Director William Cuñado, an EMB team inspected the facility on June 19 after the request of City Councilor Joel Garganera.

“For issuance of notice of violation with technical conference to apprise Evo Enviro Solutions, Inc. of the findings herein stated, and to obtain a commitment from the proponent to adopt appropriate mitigating measures; for imposition of possible fines,” read the recommendation.

The violations EMB noted were those on Condition 14 in which the proponent is restricted to undertake activities other than what was stipulated in the submitted IEE report document, and the utilization of the site as a transfer station was not within its ECC’s project description.

Other conditions of the ECC that were violated were Condition 8 for operating without securing the necessary permits –permit to operate, discharge permit, hazardous wastes generator’s ID; Condition 11.2, for failure to submit regularly the required semi-annual compliance monitoring report; and Condition 1, for failure to implement mitigating measures as far as the activities in the project site is concerned.

Evo Enviro Solutions, Inc. manager Allan Roy Rodriguez refused to comment on the violations, saying he has not read the inspection report of EMB yet.

“Basta, we are just helping the city government in addressing the garbage problem,” he told The FREEMAN.

EMB also said in the report that the minimum requirement of the establishment operating a transfer station is the leachate and drainage control, provisions for vector, odor, litter and dust control shall be included, among others. Wastes in the transfer station should also be removed 24 hours of its receipt.

During the inspection, the inspection team led by Engr. Luis Antonio Monisit of EMB learned that garbage in the area has piled up to eight meters high.  Garganera said he will wait for the result of the investigation of the EMB.

“I hope this report maabot sa office sa CCENRO (Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office) kay sila ang first line of defense kay sila ang mo-implement sa environmental laws. Pero ang nahitabo karon nagpakabuta’g bungol mani atong CCENRO,” he said.

Garganera said he is hoping that the executive department will look into the matter, clarifying he was not for the closure of the transfer station.

Sought for comment, CCENRO Head Nida Cabrera said her office will investigate the violations of the establishment, as cited by EMB.

“If EMB issued an ECC to EVO, so all conditions must be met. I will review the cited conditions if there are city and national policies that are violated,” she told The FREEMAN.

Mayor Tomas Osmeña, for his part, said he will not bar new garbage hauler Pasajero Motors Corporation from using the transfer station.

“No, I’m not going to stop. We have to collect our garbage as cheaply as possible. Ang tuyo ni Garganera is to make it as expensive as possible,” he said.

Osmeña said he was thankful that his administration has now “full control” in the City Council, adding that measures that will address the garbage problem will be approved in the legislative body.

Garganera said the executive department should seriously consider the ability and the capabilities of the service providers it would hire to address the garbage collection service of the city.

As of now, the city has spent P152M for garbage disposal. The executive department is planning to ask for an additional budget of P174 million for the remaining months of the year. (FREEMAN)