NO PERMIT, NO BUSINESS. CENRO inspectors install a "Notice of Closure" sign to one of the junk shops found to have been operating without the required business permit and violated RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Photo courtesy of Angeles CIO

ANGELES CITY – The City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here closed three junk shops on Tuesday along Arayat, Boulevard in Barangay Pampang as it stepped up its efforts to regulate the operation of the trade in the city.

A ‘Notice for Closure’ was served by the city government to De Guzman Junkshop, Asuncion Junkshop, and Alib Trading & Junkshop.

CENRO issued notices of violation and ordered the junk shop owners to cease and desist from operating until appropriate clearances and permit to operate have been secured.

Ederlinda Valencia, officer for operations of CENRO, said the three scrap recovery shops violated provisions stated under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) and the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA 8749).

She added that one of the junk shops is not legally registered to operate as per report received from the Angeles City Establishments Concerns, Compliance and Regulatory Office (ACESCCORE).

The De Guzman Junkshop, owned by a certain Roberto de Guzman, has been operating with no business permit for several years.

The said junk shop has been found as the source of the obnoxious odor near the Angeles City Public Market.
Carlito Ganzon, head officer of CENRO, said that barangay residents in the area assert that the foul odor comes from the city Material Recovery Facility.

However, CENRO personnel discovered that the shop’s burning of biodegradable waste coming from fast food chains causes the foul smell.

Upon investigation, environment officers found out that open burning was also being undertaken in the Asuncion Junkshop.

Thick smoke and haze from the burning of plastic scraps and special wastes (fluorescent bulbs) were reported by barangay residents.

Open burning of waste violates the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999 (RA 8749) .

CENRO said that fluorescent bulbs contain mercury which is awfully harmful to humans when burned and inhaled.

Alib Trading and Junkshop, located near the Angeles City National High School, has been operating using a plastic scrap shredding machine which causes disturbance and noise pollution to the aforementioned school.

The Business Permit and Licensing Division (BPLD), Angeles City Police Office (ACPO), and barangay officials assisted in the closure operation.

Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan recently challenged the city’s village officials to practice segregation and achieve zero waste in their respective barangays.

Pamintuan said he wants to eliminate waste residuals in the city during a forum dubbed as “Response to Climate Change: A Waste Segregation Conference”.

He is eager to solve the city’s environmental concerns and waste problem and achieve a “Green Angeles.”

This was exemplified by the mayor’s recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Green Philippines Island of Sustainability program (GPIOS) in preparation for the intensification of proper environmental management in the city.

– Angeles CIO