DENR eyes Navotas landfill suit

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it is tightening oversight of the Navotas Sanitary Landfill Facility and is pursuing legal action against its operator over alleged environmental violations following the recent landfill fire.

In a statement on Monday, the DENR said it issued notices of violation to Philippine Ecology Systems Corp. for alleged noncompliance with conditions under its Environmental Compliance Certificate.

The agency said alleged violations include failure to submit a safe closure and rehabilitation plan, inadequate air pollution control systems, and failure to comply with daily soil cover requirements.

The DENR also cited alleged unauthorized discharges under the Clean Water Act and failure to complete an abandonment plan.

The department said it has started case buildup proceedings with the Office of the Solicitor General, with judicial affidavits from witnesses being finalized.

“Environmental negligence has consequences. We will not allow operators to walk away from their responsibilities,” Environment Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna said in the statement.

The agency said monitoring and enforcement activities at the landfill site will continue even as environmental conditions in surrounding areas improve.

According to the DENR, air quality readings in parts of Metro Manila and nearby Bulacan have returned to “fair” to “good” levels as smoke from the incident subsided.

“The air is clearing, the danger is receding, and the science shows that our communities are safer today than they were at the height of the incident,” Mr. Cuna said.

Meanwhile, the DENR said it is exploring “advanced solid waste management technologies” that could reduce fire risks and lessen dependence on traditional landfills.

“The department is actively exploring systems that operate in controlled, enclosed environments, transforming waste into productive outputs while eliminating the hazards inherent in open disposal,” the agency said. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel