• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The Bacolod City government has raised concerns over environmental inspection procedures following recent regulatory findings about its sanitary landfill operation in Barangay Felisa.
City administrator, Atty. Mark Steven Mayo, questioned Aug. 25 the water sampling source inspected by the Environmental Management Bureau-Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR) during their July assessment.
He said the city did not receive prior notice and that no representatives from the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) were present when agency personnel conducted the sampling.
Mayo added that the water quality testing results released by the EMB differed from that of the independent test carried out by the city government through its City Health Office and BENRO, also at the sanitary landfill.
Bacolod requested in its position paper to hold a joint water sampling testing.
The position paper addressed the notices of violation issued Aug. 10 by the EMB-NIR.
The regulatory notices cited non-compliance under Republic Act 9275, or the Philippine Clean Water Act, alongside violations concerning the operation of the landfill’s cells 4 and 5 without an environmental compliance certificate.
Meanwhile, Mayo assured that they are addressing the complaints of Felisa residents on foul odor and other health concerns.
“In the middle of this all, we continue to do our job in terms of garbage collection. The concerns are being addressed and being relayed also to the city’s garbage collector and we continue to urge them for efficient collection,” he said. | TMD
