Up in arms. Tabun residents protest dumping of Manila garbage in their area.
MABALACAT, Pampanga – An anti-poverty group exposed an alleged open dumpsite at the boundary of Barangays Tabun and Cacutud here, citing violations of the Solid Waste Management Act.
Denver Singh, president of the BOLUNTARYO sa Giyera Laban sa Gutom, Kahirapan at Kawalang Pag-Asa, recently wrote a letter to Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Lormelyn Claudio, saying the illegal dumpsite was opened shortly after the municipal government closed the dumpsite in Barangays Tabun and Mangalit.
In a phone interview, Mayor Marino “Boking” Morales said he had asked the investigation of the dumpsite at the northern portion of this town where the new municipal hall stands.
Morales said he had asked his municipal solid waste management office to close the dumpsite yesterday and prevent others from using it.
“I was not informed about a new dumpsite by village officials, which should be the case, to prevent illegal dumping of garbage in their respective area,” Morales said.
Singh, who claimed to have some 412 members, said his group had spotted trucks and other vehicles owned by the municipal government at the dumpsite.
He added that some of them had been used to distribute gasoline for a bulldozer stationed and used at the dumpsite.
Singh’s group had given the photos of the alleged dumpsite and municipal vehicles to the EMB, the office of Mabalacat and the provincial government.
Singh said they also spotted trucks from Metro Manila throwing garbage at the dumpsite.
