09/20/2008 [ tribune.net.ph ]
Rizal Gov. Casimiro “Jun” Ynares III yesterday promised to lead the closing of the 19-hectare sanitary landfill facility in Montalban if the operator is found guilty of gross negligence and violations of environmental laws by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
Montalban Mayor Pedro Cuerpo earlier threatened to close the landfill, calling “an extraordinary case of human callousness” the reported dumping of untreated waste water or leaches in the river.
“Definitely, as the chief executive in this municipality, I’m not going to tolerate this crime against our environment and people. This must be stopped once and for all. DENR Secretary Lito Atienza should immediately close down the facility,” Cuerpo said.
Ynares said even he was surprised with the reports of water wastes being dumped into a creek towards the municipal river.
“If they did abuse, and illegally threw untreated water waste into the creek then they should be punished. I do not tolerate any type of illegal activities particularly if they ruin the environment,” Ynares said in a telephone interview.
The 19-hectare facility landfill is owned and operated by private entity International Solid Waste Integrated Management Systems (Swims).
Ynares said he has already appealed to the DENR to expedite the investigation.
Cuerpo said Swims breached its contract with the Montalban landfill after the Laguna Lake Development Authority issued notices of violations in the operation of its leachate water treatment system from opposing the local government unit’s plan to put up a Methane Gas Power Generation project in the dumpsite.
“To get away with the contract, Swims entered into a new contract with the provincial government using the 19-hectare lot on which it claimed it has secured a title,” Cuerpo said. Jason Faustino
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