CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Pampanga Fourth District Board Member Nestor Tolentino yesterday started the inspection of major river channels in Pampanga in a bid to find the culprits behind the alleged dumping of toxic waste affecting the fisherfolk in Macabebe and nearby towns.
Tolentino said he, representatives of Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, inspected the rivers in this city, Sto, Tomas, Minalin, Macabebe and the Pampanga River.
He disclosed that they had seen “black-colored water” at the portion of the San Fernando river near the Del Pilar Bridge.
“We have seen that the black water comes from the portion in Sindalan and Del Carmen in San Fernando,” said Tolentino.
But Tolentino, chairman of the committee on environment, said “they could not make any conclusions yet if the black water is toxic. He disclosed that he and DENR officials took samples of the water for testing.
He also said that the “black water could also be caused by garbage” dumped in the rivers.
Tolentino initiated a joint meeting to address the problem on solid waste management and other environmental issues last Tuesday at the Capitol.
DENR Regional Director Ricardo Calderon said the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) and the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) of the provincial government will close other dumpsites in Pampanga beginning February 14 up to February 28.
Scheduled to be closed were dumpsites in the City of San Fernando and the towns of Arayat, Floridablanca, Guagua, Macabebe, Magalang, Masantol, Mexico, Minalin, Porac, San Luis, Sta. Ana and Sto. Tomas.
Based on copies of notices of closure, Calderon said Pampanga LGUs have failed to comply with Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act).
EMB officials asked LGUs to close their dumpsites before the scheduled closure next week.
ENRO chief Art Punzalan said that Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineada “had set the tone in solving the problem on waste.” That, he added, “is very important.”
He disclosed that the town of Mexico had complied with provisions of the RA 9003.
Guagua Councilor Roanne Reyes had asked the EMB and ENRO to assist her town in complying with RA 9003 signed into law ten years ago.
Tolentino said he, representatives of Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, inspected the rivers in this city, Sto, Tomas, Minalin, Macabebe and the Pampanga River.
He disclosed that they had seen “black-colored water” at the portion of the San Fernando river near the Del Pilar Bridge.
“We have seen that the black water comes from the portion in Sindalan and Del Carmen in San Fernando,” said Tolentino.
But Tolentino, chairman of the committee on environment, said “they could not make any conclusions yet if the black water is toxic. He disclosed that he and DENR officials took samples of the water for testing.
He also said that the “black water could also be caused by garbage” dumped in the rivers.
Tolentino initiated a joint meeting to address the problem on solid waste management and other environmental issues last Tuesday at the Capitol.
DENR Regional Director Ricardo Calderon said the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) and the Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) of the provincial government will close other dumpsites in Pampanga beginning February 14 up to February 28.
Scheduled to be closed were dumpsites in the City of San Fernando and the towns of Arayat, Floridablanca, Guagua, Macabebe, Magalang, Masantol, Mexico, Minalin, Porac, San Luis, Sta. Ana and Sto. Tomas.
Based on copies of notices of closure, Calderon said Pampanga LGUs have failed to comply with Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act).
EMB officials asked LGUs to close their dumpsites before the scheduled closure next week.
ENRO chief Art Punzalan said that Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineada “had set the tone in solving the problem on waste.” That, he added, “is very important.”
He disclosed that the town of Mexico had complied with provisions of the RA 9003.
Guagua Councilor Roanne Reyes had asked the EMB and ENRO to assist her town in complying with RA 9003 signed into law ten years ago.
