Hermosa, Bataan—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Central Office has ordered the local government unit of Hermosa, Bataan to explain the alleged violations committed in the operation of the Hermosa Sanitary Landfill Facility located in Brgy. Mambog here.
In a Notice of Violation dated September 24, EMB Director William P. Cuñado gave both the municipality and Econest Waste Management, the company that operates the landfill, 15 days to explain in writing the violations noted by the inspection team on August 3, 2020.
The EMB noted that being the public partner in the operation of the landfill, the municipal government is just as liable should its own accusations against Econest of so-called violations are confirmed to be true.
The landfill was ordered closed by Hermosa Mayor Jopet Inton on February 20, 2020 for alleged environmental violations committed by Econest in the operation.
The EMB Regional Office No. 3, having jurisdiction over the area, denied the LGU’s request to revoke the company’s ECC and to blacklist Econest on the ground that the LGU only found lacking documentary requirements in compliance with the ECC.
Not satisfied with this finding, the LGU moved for the inhibition of Regional Director Wilson Tajeco and elevated the matter to the bureau’s head office for disposition. Butch Gunio
On August 3, 2020 the EMB Central Office conducted an inspection of the landfill and found electronic and biomedical waste, consisting mostly of blood and urine vials containing fresh blood and urine, almost six months after the private operator was no longer in possession of the project.
The Notice of Violation issued by the EMB Central Office is proof that the proceedings are still ongoing, and that no definite and final ruling has yet been issued by the bureau on this controversy, it said.