CEBU, Philippines — Mandaue City authorities impounded two trucks with wastes intended for dumping at a material recovery facility (MRF) near the Umapad dumpsite after discovering that their drivers did not have permits to transport the wastes.
According to Placido Jerusalem, assistant head of Mandaue City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the trucks owned by Man-Tech Management Services Corp. and RMS Petroleum Technology and Waste Management Corp. were apprehended and impounded on January 16 and 20, respectively, for violating City Ordinance 1221.
Enacted three years ago, the ordinance prohibits the spilling of waste, refuse or garbage, whether solid or liquid human and excreta, and offensive and obnoxious matters in any vacant lot, yards, roads, streets sidewalks, roadside canals, rivers, creeks, underground drainage system and other places in Mandaue.
Under the ordinance, an environmental transport permit issued by the mayor of Mandaue City needs to be secured by companies before they can transport wastes.
This was not allegedly complied with by the two firms.
Jerusalem said that an eco-enforcer first apprehended the Man-Tech-owned truck in the morning of Jan. 15, but it was only issued notice of violation then as it was the first instance.
However, the truck reportedly went back into transporting wastes, which led to its apprehension and impoundment the following day.
As for the other truck, it was caught illegally transporting garbage on Sunday afternoon.
Jerusalem clarified with The FREEMAN though that only solid wastes were found in the trucks upon inspection; there were no hospital trash.
“We want to make it clear that during apprehension, it was discovered that it was not medical waste but plain and pure solid wastes such as industrial or household wastes. It was not medical or infectious wastes,” he said in Cebuano.
Jerusalem also said the drivers of the impounded trucks may face jail time for hauling the solid wastes without permit.
The two companies may be also slapped with penalties, depending on the duration of their trucks’ impoundment. — Jahzeel Willow S. Coquico (FREEMAN)