Probe of toxic waste dumping in bay sought

A militant fishers’ group on Sunday urged lawmakers to investigate reports about the dumping of “toxic-ridden wastes” in Manila Bay.

In an e-mailed statement, Pambansang Lakas ng Kilusang Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya) asked Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and House Speaker Feliciano Belmonte to prioritize the proposed congressional inquiry into allegations that toxic wastes were being recycled and then thrown into dumps.

Pamalakaya said the harmful substances were being dumped at Pier 18 in Tondo, Manila, and the Navotas landfill in Obando, Bulacan.

According to the group, the toxic residues end up in the bay.

“We have a national environmental disaster here in the offing. We ask the Senate President and House Speaker to pursue a full-blown inquiry on this,” Pamalakaya national chairman Fernando Hicap said.

“Congress should not take this issue for granted. The issue is a matter of life both for the people and the environment,” Hicap added.

Pamalakaya’s statement was supported by Manila Bay coastal group Koalisyon Kontra Kumbersyon ng Manila Bay (KKK-Manila Bay).

Hicap said Environment Secretary Ramon Paje had ignored them when they called his attention on the matter.

“[He] is not taking seriously our call for an investigation and the immediate end to toxic recycling and dumping,” he added.

According to Hicap, the dumping and recycling of toxic and even nuclear wastes from Japan were made possible by the Japan-Philippines Economic Partnership Agreement.

The group claimed that since 2008, the Philippine government has allowed New Zealand to export its toxic materials to the country even without a treaty.

Pamalakaya took note of reports from concerned residents that dumps near Manila Bay have been accepting hazardous discarded consumer electronic products such as cell phones and computers since 2008.

Aside from electronic products, the group said other toxic-ridden garbage materials, such as stoves, refrigerators, air conditioners, light bulbs and batteries, were being recycled and dumped in these areas.

Hicap said the acts were clear violations of the law, specifically Republic Act No. 6969, or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act of 1990.