Acting on complaints lodged by residents, the Taytay local government has shut down a four-hectare open-pit dumpsite that has been clandestinely operating for the last 10 years.
Vic Badaguas, chief of the Taytay LGU’s general services office, said they are seriously considering filing charges against the operator on the open-pit trash dump, concealed behind a huge building along the Manila East Road in Sitio Bato-Bato in Barangay Dolores.
Badaguas who led the LGU team’s inspection following complaints filed by sitio residents, said they were shocked upon seeing the area. He said the place has been elevated by as much as 1.7 meters (about 5 feet 6 inches) by the thousands of tons of garbage dumped in the area.
Citing testimonies from the sitio residents, Badaguas claims the open-pit trash dump has been in operation since 2011.
“Ang nakita namin ay isang kubling tambakan na basura sa dati-rating malalim na bahagi ng Sitio Bato-bato. Sa dami siguro ng naitapon na basura dito at tagal nang operasyon ng illegal dumpsite na ito, mas mataas pa siya ngayon kaysa sa level ng mga kabahayan,” Badaguas averred.
Sitio Bato-bato residents earlier sought the help of Mayor Joric Gacula for the immediate closure of the open-pit trash dump, claiming that the facility has started showing signs of accumulating methane gas, which makes their community vulnerable to fire.
“Minsan nga po, pag sobrang init ng panahon, napapansin na naming umuusok ung pinagtatambakan ng basura kaya minabuti na naming lumapit sa munisipyo,” said one of the complaining residents who requested anonymity.
Badaguas also took a swipe at the barangay authorities.
“Shout out sa `yo ParengKap, unahin mo muna siguro sa iyong mga itineraries ang pagbisita sa iyong nasasakupang sitios kasi malaking problema po itong inyong kakaharapin. Kawawa naman ang kalusugan ng iyong mga residente lalo na ang mga bata… puwedeng pagmulan ng malaking sunog pati ito sir,” said the GSO chief in his Facebook post, referring to Barangay Dolores barangay chair Allan de Leon.
Gacula has already ordered a full-scale investigation to determine the liabilities of the private operator and “whoever is protecting the illegal operation of the trash dump, no matter whose toes they would step on.”
"We are definitely filing charges against them," added Gacula.
Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, strictly prohibits the operation of open-pit dumpsites.