Wastes dumped in Los Baños forest reserve

Alleged violations of environmental and forest reserve laws in Los Baños, Laguna are now threatening to contaminate vital water resources in the region, including the Laguna de Bay.

Rotting garbage is allegedly being dumped in a creek within the Makiling Forest Reserve of the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) campus.

The STAR stumbled upon this story after Los Baños councilor Norvin Tamisin sought the help of the Makati City-based Philippine Bar Association (PBA).

Tamisin said he has filed charges against Los Baños Mayor Caesar Perez with the Office of the Environmental Ombudsman in Quezon City.

According to him, the dumping of garbage in the Anos Creek threatens to pollute Laguna de Bay and other bodies of water in the region.

Tamisin provided The STAR with photographs and video footage of how Perez is allegedly violating not only the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003) but also forest reserve laws.

The video footage, recorded last July 3 and 10, showed bulldozers allegedly pushing tons of garbage down a creek.

Tamisin said Los Baños generates about six to 10 tons of garbage every day collected by five to six dump trucks.

Tamisin also sent The STAR an open letter asking for help since the rainy days have come and leachate from the garbage might reach the lake.

In his letter, he expressed fear that the leachate might flow into the creek and eventually into Laguna de Bay where it might endanger both fish and humans.

When sought for comment, Perez denied Tamisin’s allegations that he has been irresponsibly dumping garbage in a creek.

Perez said in a phone interview that the bulldozers are only spreading the garbage sideways so as not to create a mountain of trash.

"Walang katas ’yun (There’s no leachate)," he told The STAR, saying the dumpsite being questioned is a segregation center located near a dried-up creek.

Perez admitted, though, that some of the garbage has reached the creek, but he gave assurances that the municipal government is addressing the problem.

He said Tamisin’s allegations are exaggerated and politically motivated.

But Tamisin, who incidentally is the mayor’s godson, denied that there is politics in his effort to save Los Baños from the threat of contaminated and polluted water sources.

"I have received so many death threats and if it is only for politics, it is not worth it," he said in a text message to this writer.

Politics or no politics, Tamisin’s expose is gaining the support of many sectors, including environmentalist groups like the Mother Earth Foundation.

PBA president Linda Jimeno said they will provide lawyers and other forms of legal assistance in the interest of exposing the truth.

Jimeno said Perez has been claiming that Los Baños is a model community, but Tamisin’s expose and the evidence he has apparently reveal otherwise.

Tamisin sought the PBA’s help after learning that the lawyers’ group has launched a crusade against local government units violating the Solid Waste Management Act, she said.

The PBA has filed criminal and administrative charges against three Metro Manila mayors who, if proven guilty, face a minimum jail term of two years as well as fines and penalties.

The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act mandates the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste management, excluding incineration.