DENR takes Catbalogan LGU to task for dirty water, solid waste dumped in Maqueda Bay

TACLOBAN CITY–The city government of Catbalogan in Samar province was given a notice of violation for dumping dirty water and solid wastes into Maqueda Bay, a major body of water in the province.

In a ruling last Sept. 13, the Environment and Management Bureau (EMB) said the city government violated the Clean Water Act of 2004 and Administrative Order No. 2016-8 of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), or the Water Quality Guidelines and General Effluent Standards.

The EMB is under the DENR.

The EMB, in its ruling, said there was “substantial evidence to support the conclusion that a prima facie case exists” against the city government.

The source of the dirty water and sludge was traced to the city’s public market at the village of San Roque, said the ruling signed by EMB regional head Letecia Maceda.

The public market is a temporary facility with 300 stall owners. The original site of the market, at the village of 13, is under construction.

The EMB acted on a complaint filed by a Plaridel Oscar Bohol, lawyer and Catbalogan resident.

During inspection, officials of the EMB found that waste water from the different market stalls goes into the drainage system that empties directly into the sea.

The EMB said the market has no waste water treatment facility and no waste disposal system.

Edgardo Guya, city environment and natural resources officer, questioned the EMB ruling, however.

Guya, in a phone interview, said city officials were surprised by the EMB finding since the city had already put in place measures to prevent pollution at Maqueda Bay.

Some of these, he said, were “holding tanks” where waste water is deposited and treated with bio-enzymes to be reused.

Guya said vendors were also told to collect waste water, keep them in containers and dispose of this properly.

He said the mayor, Dexter Uy, had also given an order to clean up the market.

Guya said the city government would ask the EMB to reconsider its findings before penalties are imposed./TSB