Davao city: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has asked Davao City Mayor Sebastian 'Baste' Duterte to explain his waste-dumping order outside its regional office.
According to Philippines News Agency, Regional Executive Director Mercedes Dumagan requested the mayor's clarification after DENR personnel intercepted individuals dumping mixed waste in front of the Lanang office. Some individuals caught dumping waste reportedly cited the mayor's June 4 Facebook post, which identified the compound as a temporary waste collection point.
Duterte has been given five days to respond and copies have also been furnished to senior DENR officials and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). The DENR said the waste dumped outside its regional office appeared to include commercial refuse and was not segregated, contrary to the requirements of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
Dumagan stated that the incidents are being clarified and emphasized the importance of proper waste handling and compliance with established procedures. She also noted that the designation of waste collection sites must be consistent with Davao City's approved Solid Waste Management Plan and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of RA 9003.
The DENR is coordinating with the Philippine National Police to identify and verify other trucks and vehicles seen in the area during the dumping incidents for proper documentation. Meanwhile, the DENR filed a separate criminal complaint against the owner of a multipurpose vehicle that was allegedly seen on security cameras unloading sacks of mixed waste outside the regional office.
On May 21, the DENR ordered a temporary closure of the Davao City Sanitary Landfill in Barangay New Carmen following a trash slide on May 20 that claimed two lives, buried 15 houses, and affected around 180 families. The temporary closure order aims to ensure compliance with environmental laws and proper waste management practices while the city works through the challenges posed by the landfill shutdown.
The agency emphasized that both the request for clarification and the filing of the complaint form part of ongoing efforts to hold accountable those responsible for improper waste disposal and to maintain order in the city's waste management operations.
