Manila: Senator Robinhood Padilla has filed a resolution seeking a Senate investigation into the reported use of a portion of an Indigenous Peoples (IP) ancestral domain in Sitio Tibag, Subic, Zambales as a garbage dumpsite. In Senate Resolution 513, Padilla, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities and Muslim Affairs, noted that the affected area forms part of the ancestral domain of the Aeta community.

According to Philippines News Agency, the resolution seeks to identify those responsible for the alleged landfill operations, explore measures to rehabilitate the area, and strengthen laws protecting IPs and their ancestral domains. Padilla emphasized the significance of ancestral lands, stating, "An ancestral land is not a vacant lot that can be turned into a garbage dumpsite. This is the home, livelihood, history, and identity of the tribe. We cannot set aside their rights in the name of the convenience of any official."

The resolution referred to a television documentary that aired recently, revealing that part of the ancestral domain has allegedly been used as a dumpsite since 2019. It highlighted that used face masks, personal protective equipment, and other waste related to the Covid-19 pandemic were among the materials dumped in the area. Residents have claimed contamination of their primary water source, posing health risks to the community.

Padilla also cited findings from a 2022 investigation by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, which reportedly ordered the municipality of Subic to cease and desist from operating the dumpsite until 2025. The senator reiterated that the 1987 Constitution and Republic Act (RA) 8371, or the Indigenous Peoples' Rights Act, guarantee the protection of IPs and their ancestral lands. Additionally, he noted that RA 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, prohibits the operation of open dumpsites.