The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has mandated an immediate halt to all operations at a waste disposal site situated inside the ancestral lands of an Aeta community in Barangay Naugsol, Subic, Zambales.
Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna revealed that a cease and desist directive was handed down two days prior, sparked by growing alarms raised by multiple organizations regarding the suspected infringement on the land rights of the indigenous population.
Among the primary grievances highlighted were the health hazards confronting local inhabitants and the suspected pollution of their water supply.
“We already have a cease and desist order two days ago and the last inspection of the regional office was that it is no longer operational,” Cuna stated during a media briefing.
He further noted that refuse formerly destined for the Subic location will be diverted to a different area.
“There was already an alternative site in Floridablanca (Pampanga),” added.
Documentation shows that the open-air dumpsite was established in 2019. Although the DENR uncovered the property in 2022 and commanded its shutdown, activities allegedly persisted regardless of the injunction. A previous cease and desist order had also been slapped against the site this past March prior to the agency rolling out its latest decree this week.
Cuna conceded that numerous local authorities still grapple with efficient trash disposal, drawing attention to the specific difficulties encountered by the municipality of Subic.
Per Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, all open dumpsites across the country were mandated to shut down within five years of the legislation’s passage.
Nevertheless, the environment chief confessed that trash disposal continues to be a chronic hurdle, pointing out that even mandated garbage sorting at the village level is frequently neglected.
“May fourth- and fifth-class municipalities lack the capacity to operate proper sanitary landfills, with the nearest accredited facility often too far,” said Cuna.
In spite of these roadblocks, the environment secretary remains hopeful that progress can be achieved by fostering deeper cooperation among national departments, local governments, and civil groups.
Cuna stressed that a sustainable fix will ultimately rely on broader community involvement—starting with meticulous trash separation and mindful waste management within homes—coupled with sturdier backing from local administrations through policies like curbing single-use plastics and refining regional waste collection methods.