The Ombudsman Environmental Team of Investigators and Prosecutors, in an open public hearing held at the Leyte Normal University in Tacloban City last week, successfully caused the closure of three open dumpsites in municipalities of Hindang and Bato in Leyte, and the municipality of Catarman in the Northern Samar. Close to 40 officials from Leyte and Catarman attended the investigation for violation of the National Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act No. 9003).
The public hearing highlighted the weeklong activities of the Environmental Ombudsman Team capped by the public forum to assess the compliance of local governments with the Solid Waste Management law. The event was spearheaded by the Office of the Ombudsman, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and civil society organizations, with Senator Loren Legarda as keynote speaker. The team also participated in an experiential training for environmental action organized by Ramon Magsaysay Awardee and world-renowned environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr. in Bantayan Island, Cebu.
Participants included officials from the Ombudsman, DENR, international environmental lawyers, NGO workers, green architects, environmental planners and student interns under the auspices of Sea and Earth Advocates of Culture, Arts and Music for the Planet (SEA CAMP) headed by Oposa.
Coinciding with the celebration of Earth Day, participants witnessed the filing of a petition proposing to divide all roads in Sta. Fe town in Bantayan by half – one half for motor vehicles and the other half for walkways and bike lanes. Officials also assisted in installing “fish condominiums” made of used fish nets and cement into the sea to provide shelter for fish and other marine life and replace the corals that were damaged by cyanide fishing and explosives, aggravated by Typhoon Yolanda. Attendees also closed-off from all human entry a freshwater wetland dedicated as a strictly protected bird sanctuary.
The Environmental Ombudsman Team will monitor post-closure activities of the LGUs concerned and ensure that the provisions of Republic Act No. 9003 and other environmental laws are fully implemented. ###