THE Office of the Ombudsman has directed Mindanao officials to shed light into the operation of illegal dumps within their jurisdiction.
Investigators from the Environmental Ombudsman Program had conducted an in-depth fact-finding probe of illegal dumps maintained in Mindanao.
The Ombudsman ordered officials from the cities of Kidapawan, Koronadal, Valencia, Cagayan de Oro, and the towns of General Luna in Surigao del Norte, Marihatag in Surigao del Sur and Loreto in Agusan del Sur to attend a string of clarificatory hearings from Oct. 25 to Oct. 28.
The probe was conducted as part of a national campaign to ensure compliance with Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
As of September 2016, the Ombudsman environmental team successfully caused the closure of 29 open dumpsites nationwide, said the Ombudsman’s statement posted on its official website.
Upon receipt of the complaint filed by the National Solid Waste Management Commission on Feb. 10, the Environmental Ombudsman gave local officials a non-extendible period of 30 days within which to submit their explanation and a safe closure and rehabilitation plan, which must include a proposal to immediately close the open dumpsite.
The Environmental Ombudsman also ordered the local officials to detail the specific tasks, activities and legislative action to be completed within six months of SCRP implementation.
It will monitor post-closure activities of the local governments concerned and ensure that the provisions of RA 9003 and other environmental laws are fully implemented.