THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will formally ask Davao City Mayor Baste Duterte to explain why a large volume of garbage was dumped and accumulated right outside the regional office of the agency in Davao.
This action comes after the area was designated as an unofficial collection point for waste, following the closure of the New Carmen Sanitary Landfill by DENR Region XI. The move has drawn strong concern from environment officials, who emphasized that such a practice violates environmental laws and creates public health risks.
In addition to seeking clarification from the mayor, the DENR announced it will file a criminal complaint against the owner of the vehicle used to transport and dump the trash at the government facility.
Authorities are currently gathering evidence, including surveillance footage and witness statements, to identify those responsible and hold them accountable under Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. The agency stressed that dumping waste in unauthorized areas, especially outside government offices, is illegal and will not be tolerated.
The situation arose after Mayor Duterte ordered the use of the area near the DENR office as a temporary garbage collection site. This decision came shortly after the environmental agency ordered the permanent shutdown of the New Carmen Sanitary Landfill. The closure was prompted by a recent landslide within the facility that claimed the lives of several residents living nearby and exposed serious safety and environmental hazards that could no longer be ignored. With the main landfill no longer operational, the city has faced a mounting waste crisis, leaving local officials scrambling for alternative solutions.
The DENR acknowledged the challenges brought about by the landfill closure but emphasized that designating public spaces or government premises as dumping sites is not the proper solution. It called on the city government to coordinate closely with national agencies to establish legal, safe, and sustainable waste management systems. The agency also reiterated its commitment to helping Davao City resolve its garbage problem, while ensuring that all actions comply with environmental regulations and protect the welfare of the public.
