Philippine Company Tosses Sacks Of Trash Into The River

In the Philippines litter is a huge problem. This includes illegal dumping. In Iloilo City a company was recently revealed to have been dumping huge sacks of garbage into the Jaro River. 

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1277583

A business firm operating a beverage depot in this highly urbanized city is facing the risk of losing its permit to operate while facing cases for violation of environmental laws for dumping expired commodities into the Jaro River.

General Services Office head Neil Ravena said they met the owner of the establishment for a technical conference on Thursday and found some inconsistencies in his statement.

The conference was joined by the Business Process Licensing Office, City Environment and Natural Resources Office, representatives from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the barangay captains of Banuyao and Ticud, where the expired commodities were recovered.

“This is with regard to the disposal of expired commodities to the Jaro River. This is to verify reports and also for the respondent to explain why they are disposing their expired commodities in the Jaro River,” Ravena said in an interview.

The expired commodities were placed inside sacks and dumped into the Jaro River. These were recovered sometime in the second week of this month during the ongoing cleanup activities.

“The reason why we were able to trace him was because of the identical sacks left at his depot,” he said.

The firm owner, according to Ravena, explained that they are trying to repackage the expired drinks for return to the distributor of the bottling company.

These were reportedly placed outside their depot, but were picked up by trisikad (pedicab) and tricycle drivers and disposed without the knowledge of the firm owner.

Ravena said they were able to recover only portions of the 67 sacks that were disposed at the river.

The owner also admitted that they still have 500 sacks left, which they are attempting to return to the bottling company.

Cases for violation of Republic Act 9003, or the Solid Waste Management Act, and the Clean Water Act are expected to be filed next week once the minutes of the technical conference are available.

He will also recommend to Mayor Raisa Trenas the revocation of the establishment’s permit to operate.

This company was banking on nobody actually cleaning the river! But their hopes were dashed when the local government decided to do clean up activities and found these intact sacks which led them to the company. 

Only portions of 67 sacks were recovered while the company says they have 500 sacks waiting to be dumped! Well, waiting to be returned to a bottling company. They say the sacks were picked up without their knowledge but how true is that? If it turns out this company knowingly and willingly dumped those sacks into the river they should face the full force of the law. 

Of course this is the Philippines so it's likely not going to happen!