Bacolod cracks down on viral illegal dumping

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The City Legal Office and the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office are intensifying their information campaign to help residents understand environmental laws and waste management regulations after a viral video showed illegal dumping in the Reclamation area.

The video, sent to Mayor Greg Gasataya and later shared on social media, showed four men on a truck dumping construction debris in the area.

“We are not taking this matter lightly. Manabat ang dapat manabat,” Gasataya warned.

Gasataya immediately ordered an investigation, which led Police Station 2 to identify the truck owner.

The truck owner later met with officials of the CLO and BENRO.

CLO spokesperson Vanessa Encabo said the truck owner apologized and admitted that he instructed his workers to dump the debris in the area.

Encabo said the truck owner claimed he was not aware of the city’s waste disposal rules.

Encabo said she reminded him that ignorance of the law does not exempt anyone from penalties.

The act constitutes a violation of City Ordinance No. 596 and Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Under the city ordinance, dumping construction waste in unauthorized areas is prohibited and punishable by a PHP 2,500 fine or five days of community service.

The violator agreed to pay the PHP 2,500 fine and an additional PHP 270 fee based on the truck’s 2.7-cubic-meter carrying capacity.

He was also ordered to remove the dumped debris.

A cleanup drive was immediately conducted at Sulom Creek in Barangay Mandalagan.

The city government reminded contractors, truck owners and residents to coordinate with BENRO for proper waste disposal and to use only authorized disposal sites.

The case underscores the continuing challenge of enforcing solid waste rules in urban areas, where construction debris and other improperly discarded materials can clog waterways, worsen flooding and create public health risks.

Republic Act No. 9003 requires local governments to implement ecological solid waste management programs, including waste segregation, collection, recycling and proper disposal.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Office-Negros Island Region served a show cause order on May 8 to a truck owner in Barangay Bata in connection with the viral garbage dumping incident.

The LTO-NIR said the show cause order was issued over possible violations of environmental laws, rules, regulations and local ordinances.

Although the respondent was not present when the order was served, it was received by a family member at the address.

The LTO-NIR reminded motorists and vehicle owners to act responsibly and ensure their vehicles are not used in activities that violate laws or local ordinances.