Skip to main content

DENR probes alleged dumping of hospital waste on Laoag rice field


By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter

Laoag City—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources has asked the Environment Management Bureau to conduct a field validation and thorough investigation on the alleged dumping of liquid waste of the Laoag City General Hospital (LCGH) into a rice field.

In a letter-complaint, former Laoag City mayor Roger C. Fariñas sent to provincial environment and natural resources officer Juan delos Reyes Jr. on October 14, 2014, Mr. Fariñas reported that the Laoag City government-run hospital has been allegedly disposing contaminated liquid waste from its dialysis facility.

Mr. Fariñas alleged that said liquid waste was siphoned from the septic tank twice a week and dumped into the adjacent rice field.

To verify this report, Mr. Delos Reyes said they have already requested technical personnel from the EMB based in San Fernando City, La Union to immediately conduct an investigation.

According to Mr. Delos Reyes, the EMB is the authorized government-body to investigate and conduct appropriate action regarding the issue.

Republic Act 9275 states that the disposal of potentially infectious medical waste is punishable with a fine of P200,000 per day of contamination and imprisonment.


The same law provides that a violation resulting in serious injury and loss of life is punishable with 12 years imprisonment and a fine of P500,000 per day of contamination. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Empanada festival: A celebration of good taste and good life

By Dominic B. dela Cruz & Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporters BATAC CITY—If there is one thing Batac is truly proud of, it would be its famous empanada-making business that has nurtured its people over the years. Embracing a century-old culture and culinary tradition, Batac’s empanada claims to be the best and tastiest in the country with its distinctive Ilokano taste courtesy of its local ingredients: fresh grated papaya, mongo, chopped longganisa, and egg. The crispy orange wrapper and is made of rice flour that is deep-fried. The celebration of this city’s famous traditional fast food attracting locals and tourists elsewhere comes with the City Charter Day of Batac every 23 rd  of June. Every year, the City Government of Batac led by Mayor Jeffrey Jubal Nalupta commemorate the city’s charter day celebration to further promote its famous One-Town, One Product, the Batac empanada. Empanada City The Batac empanada festival has already become an annua

PGIN honors Ilocano heroes of past, present through Heroes Walk

SPO1 Allan Lampitoc Franco of Banna, Ilocos Norte and PO2 Jovalyn D. Lozano of Adams, Ilocos Norte receive a resolution of commendation, a certificate of college scholarship grant to their family members and a P20,000 cash incentive each from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte represented by Governor Imee R. Marcos and Vice Governor Angelo M. Barba in recognition of their bravery and heroic acts in the Mamasapano clash in Maguindanao on January 25. Mr. Franco and Mr. Lozano were recognized on March 10 in time for the unveiling of the second batch of Ilocano heroes at the Heroes Walk located along the Sirib Mile in Laoag City.  (Lei Adriano) By Jennifer T. Pambid PGIN-CMO In honor of the heroes who brought freedom, fame and glory to the province as well as to the country in the past century, the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Education Department and Sirib Youth Office launched the second batch of Ilocano Heroes Walk on March 10, 2015.

Pagudpud’s tourism transformer passes away

By Leilanie G. Adriano Staff reporter LAOAG CITY—Retired Philippine Air Force Col. Ricardo Nolasco Jr., owner of Hannah’s Beach Resort and Convention Center in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte passed away on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2018. He was 67. “He did not survive an open-heart surgery,” said Ronald Dominguez, spokesperson of the largest resort at Brgy. Balaoi in Pagudpud. Known as the architect behind the transformation of Pagudpud town as a premiere destination of the north, Mr. Nolasco put up Hannah’s Beach Resort in what was originally meant as a family vacation resort. The rest is history when it expanded into more than 300-room executive villas and cabanas, with on-going infrastructure developments and set up various amenities. As a result, hundreds of domestic and foreign tourists visit here daily. The resort is on a cliff by the beach, which provides a spectacular view of the sparkling blue lagoon. “Yesterday will go down my lifeline as one