Sen. Tulfo: Rise of illegal dumpsites, severe flooding seen with impending closure of Kalangitan
Senator Raffy Tulfo expressed fears that local government units (LGUs) in Central and Northern Luzon will resort back to using illegal dumpsites and riverways to discard effluents “increasing vulnerability to flooding” if the Kalangitan Landfill in Capas, Tarlac will shut down next month.
In his privilege speech on Tuesday, Senator Raffy Tulfo said the impending closure of the lone engineered sanitary landfill–serving two densely populated regions of Central and Northern Luzon comprising more than 150 local government units and local, and industries including private hospitals for the past 25 years– will pose a massive environmental and health problems in the two regions.
Most hospitals in Metro Manila are also sending their hospital wastes to the Kalangitan Landfill for disposal.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) and Clark Development Corporation are poised to shut down the operation of the Metro Clark Waste Management Corporation (MCWMC), the operator of the 100-hectare Kalangitan Landfill in Capas, Tarlac early as its service contract expires next month.
“Kapag aalisin po natin ang Kalangitan Landfill – the necessary effect would be that these Local Government Units served by the Landfill– would revert to dumping into our waterways and other illegal dumpsites which run the risk of not only poisoning our water supply,” Senator Tulfo said.
Sen. Tulfo has cited the plan of BCDA and CDC to shut down the operations of the Kalangitan Landflll by October 6 amid the clamor of LGUs being served by it to reconsider because it will trigger “environmental problems.”
“Mula noon at hangang ngayon, basura pa rin ang ating problema mula sa mililiit na mga munisipyo hanggang sa pinakamalalaking siyudad,” according to the Senator, who currently chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services.
Sen. Tulfo said the DENR has approved the closure of the Kalangitan Landfill “contrary to their policy as set forth in law.” “This is an issue we cannot afford to leave unaddressed,” Sen. Tulfo said.
Tulfo, who called on the BCDA and DENR “to explain their actions and prove to us – or rather, prove to the public – that this would not lead to another disaster waiting to happen.”
Sen. Tulfo said if the plan of BCDA and CDC to close the Capas waste facility would cause environmental degradation, he urged both government agencies to recall their order to stop the MCWMC operations.
“Kung ito ay sinarado, panigurado ba tayo na kakayanin ng mga natitirang mga landfill ang volume ng basura na ikakarga rito? And can they do it in such a way that still complies with our Solid Waste Management Act or RA9003?,” asked Sen. Tulfo.
Immediately after his privilege speech, the Senate approved unanimously its referral to Senate’s Committee on Environment Natural Rsources and Climate Change for further actions.
“Nananawagan ako sa mga ahensiyang ito na bawiin na agad ang kanilang proposed action, alang alang na lamang sa mga kababayan nating maaaring biktima na naman ng kalamidad.”
This, amid reports that BCDA, CDC, and DENR, had allegedly told affected LGUs to utilize some 10 “preferred waste facilities”.
