Mandaue eyes penalty vs erring septage haulers

CEBU, Philippines - The Mandaue City Council yesterday approved on first reading the proposed Environment Transport Permit Ordinance which, once passed, will regulate the transport of garbage in the city.

“There has been report from MCENRO that some private septage haulers dislodged their waste materials at Butuanon River,” read the proposed ordinance authored by Councilor Ernie Manatad, chairman on Council Committee on Environmental Protection.

Manatad said this proposed ordinance will hopefully help in protecting the city’s environment from improper waste disposal.

This proposal also came after Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Placido Jerusalem has been running after private garbage haulers who are throwing their waste to a private site in Sitio Benedicto, Barangay Umapad.

This proposed ordinance shall cover owners and drivers of public and private vehicles “whether for profit or not operating, plying and driving their routes within the city...which shall carry and/or deliver any solid waste.”

This will also look into waste identified as hazardous and infectious and from mining activities including “contaminated soil and debris.”

Section 5 of this proposed measure also mandates that vehicles shall register with MCENRO before they operate, and they will then be issued a sticker and an identification card for the driver by the Treasurer’s Office. Registration fee is P2,000 to cover the vehicle sticker and the ID and requirements for registration are business permit, a Department of Environment and Natural Resources permit and a National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or police clearance for the driver.

Failure to register the vehicles will have a corresponding fine of P5,000 or an imprisonment of five days will be slapped for the first offender; P10,000 or a jail time of 10 days for the second offender; and P30,000 or an imprisonment of one month for the third offender. (FREEMAN)