CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda on Friday met with truckers and haulers from Bulacan and Pampanga at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here to address growing concerns over the operations of the EcoProtect Management Corp. (EPMC) landfill and the continued entry of garbage from outside the province.
The meeting was held following the recent discovery of environmental violations during an on-site inspection personally conducted by the governor himself, along with the provincial government-environment and natural resources office. These violations included the entry of unpermitted trucks, the dumping of hazardous waste, and non-compliance with national waste transport regulations.
On June 11, the Provincial Government of Pampanga issued a memorandum suspending for 15 days the hauling passes of truckers and haulers from Bulacan to allow the joint composite team to complete its investigation.
During the dialogue, Pineda announced a series of new measures to regulate waste hauling in Pampanga. All trucks entering the province will now be required to bear permanent markings indicating whether they are transporting sand, gravel, or garbage. He also stressed that garbage haulers must ensure their loads contain no hazardous materials.
The governor also proposed the installation of GPS devices in trucks to monitor movement and deter illegal dumping.
“Lalagyan natin ng sistema ngayon,” Pineda said. “Unfair sa mga Kapampangan kung tayo ang tatanggap ng basura ng iba. Lalo na ang mga anak natin ang magsa-suffer.”
Only truckers hauling sand and gravel who were present during the meeting will be granted conditional entry into the province. Those who failed to attend will remain suspended and will be called to a separate session.
The governor also confirmed that the provincial government will file charges against violators of environmental and transport regulations. “Hindi po natin pwedeng palampasin. Kailangan po nating i-implement ang disiplina para matuto ang truckers.”
The governor also said the provincial government is working to finalize an ordinance that will institutionalize the new requirements, with efforts underway to complete it within the week.
Pineda called on haulers to understand the steps taken by the provincial government, emphasizing that the goal is to protect Pampanga’s environment and public health. Photos: Daniel Ombina/Pampanga PIO
