- Old sanitary landfill permanently closed; new site operations okayedÂ
THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources XI ordered the permanent closure and stoppage of all dumping operations at the existing Davao City Sanitary Landfill in Barangay New Carmen, Tugbok District.
The EMB XI announced the development on Friday, June 19, following the expiration of the temporary waste disposal extension of the City Government of Davao.
“To avert public health and environmental risks from city-wide garbage accumulation, waste disposal services are being seamlessly transitioned to an operational ‘interim cell’ within the designated portion of the new Sanitary Landfill,” the agency said in a press release.
The agency said the new facility’s interim cell is “complete and structurally ready” to receive waste as of Thursday, June 18.
Meanwhile, the city government is directed to submit a draft Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plan of the old sanitary landfill within 30 days following its closure.
To note, the permanent closure stems from a tragic trash-slide incident on May 20 in the Barangay New Carmen facility, which resulted in two fatalities, one missing person, and two injuries.
The agency, through DENR XI regional director Atty. Ma. Mercedes V. Dumagan, ordered an immediate suspension of disposal on May 21 due to multiple violations of Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000) and DENR Administrative Order No. 10, specifically violations of paragraphs 1,3, and 11 of Section 5.2 and Section 2, Rule XIV, Operations of Sanitary Landfills, IRR of Republic Act No. 9003.
With this, the LGU was granted a temporary window to resume disposal operations in a portion of the existing landfill until June 16.
Dumagan and Environmental Management Bureau XI regional director Alnulfo M. Alvarez signed the final order on June 17, halting all further activities at the old landfill, except for critical mitigation and rehabilitation works.
“Moving forward, the old landfill will strictly undergo safe closure and rehabilitation,” the agency said, noting it will monitor the Davao City LGU’s compliance to ensure long-term public safety and environmental sustainability.
