The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) denied the request of Quezon City government to reopen the sanitary landfill in Payatas.
DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones stated in his letter to Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista on August 11, saying, “In this connection, much to our regret, we are constrained to deny your request to utilize the landfill until it reaches its full capacity or until December 2017 based on the findings made by the EMB Central Office, MGB and EMB National Capital Region.”
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) conducted an inspection of the Quezon City Sanitary Landfill (QCSLF) on August 9, two days after DENR officials, led by Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, who visited the site to determine the possibility of allowing the Quezon City government to use the landfill for two months or until the end of the year.
Leones advised the Quezon City government to pursue the implementation of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, particularly on the promotion of the so-called 3Rs in solid waste management — reduce, reuse and recycle. | Angelica Bobiles – PTV
