• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod City administrator, Atty. Mark Steven Mayo, confirmed Aug. 20 that the city received two notices of violation (NOVs) from the Environmental Management Bureau-Negros Island Region on the operation of the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa, adding the LGU continues to implement measures to ensure compliance with environmental laws and requirements.
The NOVs are for violation of Republic Act 9275, or the Philippine Clean Water Act, on water discharged from the landfill, and Presidential Decree 1586, or the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System, for operating cells No. 4 and 5 without an environmental compliance certificate (ECC).
Mayo said the city received the NOVs Aug. 10, and clarified that there was no order to stop the operation of the landfill, only that there should be compliance to explain.
In the NOVs signed by EMB-NIR OIC regional director, Vicente Losbañes, the city government has been directed to submit a notarized position paper within 15 days from receipt “and to show cause why no order for the immediate cessation of the project operations should be issued…and (for Bacolod to) be subjected to a fine ranging from P28,531.17 to P570,623.34 every day of violation…”
“Rest assured that we will comply to resolve and rectify what needs to be corrected, and we are ready at all costs, whatever the result will be,” Mayo stressed in a city press release.
He clarified that when Cell No. 4 was constructed in May 2024, the city engaged IPM-Construction and Development Corp., whose contract included the obligation to secure the necessary licenses and permits, including the conversion of the land classification from agricultural to mixed-use.
He said the requirement was only complied with during the administration of Mayor Greg Gasataya as part of the requirements for the ECC application, and in line with the mayor’s commitment to improve the condition of the sanitary landfill. This step will subsequently allow the city to fulfill the requirements for Cell No. 5’s ECC.
He explained that engineering measures have been undertaken at the landfill since January 2026, following the engagement of the new private garbage collection and landfill management contractor, International Solid Waste Integrated Management Specialists Inc. (ISWIMS), to address compliance requirements.
The city also committed to improving solid waste management and complying with environmental regulations, amid concerns raised, especially on odor and road safety, during the public hearing facilitated by the EMB-NIR Aug. 20 for the ECC application on Cell No. 4.
The hearing was attended by representatives from civic groups, environmental organizations, barangay officials, and key city departments. | CGC
