NOT SO HIDDEN DUMP. Environmentalist Dobles exposes an open dump hidden behind the brush and tall grasses near a waterway in Barangay Telabastagan, City of San Fernando. A stone’s throw from the dump is the barangay material’s recovery facility.
PHOTO BY BONG LACSON
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – An open dumpsite located about a hundred meters from the MacArthur Highway was uncovered in Barangay Telabastagan here recently.
The dumpsite is reportedly operated by Barangay Captain Elmer Manguerra, according to a man who identified himself as Rodolfo Bautista. He was sorting out recyclable materials near the dumpsite and readying them for transport when confronted.
Bautista said the material resorting facility (MRF) near the dumpsite is called R and F and allegedly owned by the village chief. The area is just behind the Holy Angel Village 6 subdivision and right beside a creek which fl ows into a river.
Local environmentalist Sonny Dobles said he uncovered the illegal dumpsite after receiving complaints from property owner Ruperto Cruz, himself an advocate of the environment and head of the Pinoy Gumising Ka Movement (PGKM).
Dobles said professional squatters who were about to put up structures in the said property were reportedly demanding proof of ownership before dismantling their lines. They allegedly name dropped Manguerra as allowing them to occupy the area. Meanwhile, Dobles said the illegal dumpsite is a clear violation of the law and runs contrary to the “Sagip Ilog” campaign of the local government.
