DENR shutters Pagudpud dumpsite

By Leilanie G. Adriano

Staff Reporter

PAGUDPUD, Ilocos Norte—After failing to adhere to the provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, this town’s open dumpsite was ordered shuttered.

Situated at Barangay Caunayan, the controversial garbage dump was ordered by closed the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources pending the municipality’s construction of a sanitary landfill.

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Juan delos Reyes confirmed this following the submission of the municipality’s closure plan.

While still searching for a possible location of the proposed Pagudpud sanitary landfill, Mr. Delos Reyes said the municipality may consider rehabilitating the open dump site of Pagudpud into a controlled dumpsite.

To date, Pagudpud Mayor Marlon Sales reported that in preparation to the closure, the Pagudpud local government initiated plans such as the development of compost pit in every household including the conduct of information, education, and communication (IEC) on proper waste segregation.

As to the closure and rehabilitation of the Caunayan open dump site, the Pagudpud government has allotted funding for the  construction of a retaining wall, fencing of its premises, leveling of the steep slope and covering the site with soil, and printing and hanging of  tarpaulins stating among others that the dump site is now permanently closed.

According to Mr. Delos Reyes, the DENR is still validating other municipalities here who have yet to comply with the Solid Waste Management Act.

“If the local government units can not comply on the first and second warning, that will be the time to issue a closure order,” Mr. Delos Reyes stressed.