Dumpsite Overlaying Ceased

Talisay City Mayor Johnny delos Reyes issued a cease and desist order against the limestone overlaying operation in Biasong dumpsite, saying it has no prior approval from his office.

Delos Reyes, in an executive order he issued this week, said the operation must be “stopped right away” as the City Hall has yet to see if what has been going on in there is within the legal bounds.

The mayor’s order came after reports had it that the overlaying of limestones in the city’s old dumpsite has no approval from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). Delos Reyes said he is also worried the old waste from the said dumpsite may emit hazardous gas to people living in the area, especially that it has not undergone the proper closure.

As per the Ecological Solid Waste Waste Management Act, there are certain procedures that must be followed by local government units in closing open landfills. In 2006, when said law took effect, the city, then led by Mayor Socrates Fernandez, closed the Biasong landfill, and decided to dump limestones on top of the land to cover the remaining
waste. Later on, allegedly without proper rehabilitation of the old dumpsite, Fernandez allowed homeless families to build their shanties there without consulting the DENR if it was already safe to open the site for residential housing.