Residents complain of illegal dumpsite

Residents of Barangay Wawa in Taguig City are disgruntled over the continued operation of a dumpsite and transfer station along C6 Road, not far from a residential area and about only 20 meters away from the Laguna Lake.

An estimated 200 families who have been affected by the illegal dumping site are now planning to take legal action against the garbage contractor utilizing the facility.

Residents have repeatedly complained about the operation of the facility due to elevated cases of asthma, allergy, coughs, and colds. The management of garbage contractor reportedly has not shouldered any medical bills or offered any monetary compensation to the affected residents.

In addition, issues of water pollution and pest infestation have also aggravated conditions of residents living in flood-prone areas who are using deep wells as their water source.

In a formal hearing of the Committee of Environmental Protection and Ecology, representatives of the garbage contractor admitted that they have failed to secure pertinent documents for their operations from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Solid Waste Management Department and Health and Sanitation permits from both the local government and Barangay Wawa.

Under the Article 6, Sec.38 of the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 - Permit for Solid Waste Management Facility Construction and Expansion – "No person shall commence operation, including site preparation and construction of new solid waste management facility or the expansion of an existing facility until the person obtains an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department pursuant to P.D. 1586 and other permits and clearances from concerned agencies.”

The CEPE, together with the Solid Waste Management Department and the Health and Sanitation Department, has not pressed criminal charges against the contractor, recommending only the transfer of their operations to the unused and former transfer station in Barangay Bagumbayan.

Posted in: Illegal Dumpsite