Gov’t hospital rapped for dumping wastes inside lot

By Felipe V. Celino 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued a notice of violation against a hospital here for dumping wastes in an open space at Capitol Hills in Barangay Lanot here.

The subject of the notice is Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH).

According to Engr. Marlon Bonite, EMB Supervising Environmental Management Specialist in Capiz, it was not proper for RMPH to dump the hazardous wastes in the open space of its Out-Patient Department (OPD).

Bonite said there should be proper storage area for the hazardous waste as it is not easy to transport and dispose the wastes from the hospital because their office will have to accredit the transporter and waste treater.

Bonite said he ordered the pollution control officer of RMPH to immediately transfer the wastes to an isolated place while waiting for the accredited transporter and treater “because there is a big possibility that it might contaminate the ground water around the OPD and pose danger to the health of the residents.”

But RMPH said the dumping of waste materials in the OPD lot was only temporary until they are able to properly dispose of it.