EMB-7 shuts Consolacion landfill

CEBU, Philippines — The Environmental Management Bureau in Central Visayas has issued a cease and desist order against a private sanitary landfill in Barangay Polog, Consolacion town for allegedly violating environmental laws.

EMB-7, in a statement, said that Asian Energy Systems Corp. was found to have violated the provisions of Presidential Decree 1586 or the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System and Republic Act 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.

Based on the findings of the inspection conducted by bureau’s personnel on April 23 and May 5, the firm failed to implement an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) that resulted to a landslide in the area last May 4.

EMP is among the conditions for the issuance of an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) which is necessary to operate the facility.

According to EMB-7, the establishment has also exceeded the wastewater effluent standards for Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Ammonia, and Total Coliform parameters.

“With this, they have failed to comply with the Condition 5 of their ECC and the regulations of Philippine Clean Water Act,” it said.

The management of the landfill was called in for a technical conference on May 8 and informed of its violations.

Aside from the CDO, the management of the landfill will also be fined with P100,000.

As part of commitment in solving the problem, Asian Energy Systems Corp. is required to submit rehabilitation plan of the landslide area. Along with this, it is also asked to conduct and implement a full rehabilitation and assessment of the affected area.

The landfill is also required to immediately stop discharging wastewater and seal all leakages. EMB-7 said it will reinspect the facility to determine the compliance.

“Asian Energy Systems Corp. is required to observe the CDO or else, they will be fined with P50,000 in everyday of illegal operation,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, the EMB-7 is being called to investigate the landfill after a truck driver of RMS Petroleum and Waste Management Corp., identified as Rodulfo Malasaga, died in the area last May 5.

“Naglabay og basura ang truck driver, together with the two helpers. Unfortunately, nahulpa ang basura. Ang duha ka helpers nakaambak but ang driver natabunan gyud siya sa basura and it took five days before his body was retrieved,” RMS lawyer Joel Obar told The FREEMAN.

Obar said the police are now preparing a case of homicide through reckless imprudence against the owner of the dumpsite.

Obar also said DENR-EMB should look into the legality of the landfill or dumpsite operation.

“They should investigate that kung landfill or dumpsite ba gyud na siya. Kay kung landfill na siya, daghan kaayo na og mga requirements but the way we look at it, dumpsite ra gyud siya,” Obar said.

“We call the attention of the DENR. There is a disaster waiting to happen apart from destructive effect on the environment and people living within the immediate premises of an illegal landfill,” he added.

Engr. Jose Rey Maleza, officer-in-charge of the Department of Energy-Visayas Field Office, said that Asian Energy Systems Corp. used to have contracts with Cebu province for delivery of 500 tons/day of solid waste.

However, he said that the project was last monitored by the DOE in May 2014.

“Project was off-listed after it did not meet its target date for operation of a 4MW waste-to-energy in June 2015,” said Maleza.

The FREEMAN tried but failed to get comments from Asian Energy Systems Corp. as of this writing. The paper also called Consolacion Mayor Teresa Alegado but she refused to comment saying the landfill is not being run by the local government unit.

Binaliw Landfill

In a separate development, the Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) has required ARN Central Waste Management Inc., operator of the landfill in Barangay Binaliw, Cebu City, to spray mist at the mounds of garbage there and to clean heavy equipment upon leaving the facility to minimize stench.

CCENRO, led by Ma. Nida Cabrera, came up with the recommendation after inspecting the 10-hectare landfill site Monday afternoon, following complaints from residents regarding the landfill’s foul odor.

Cabrera said mist spray is the same as deodorizer, only that in spraying mist, the interval of use is adjustable.

“Mechanized ang misting, i-set lang ang intervals para naa’y regular spraying,” she said.

Cabrera said her office will regularly monitor the landfill operation to ensure that ARN is compliant with all existing environmental laws.

“Wala ra man (foul odor). Okay ra, maayo man ilang management system,” she said. — JMD (FREEMAN)