CARRYING giant papier-mâché eyeballs and a huge banner that
says "The people are watching, tambakan ng basura, ipasara!," members of the
EcoWaste Coalition lined up outside the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources office to push for the closure, clean up and rehabilitation of all
garbage dumps throughout the country.
The activists wielded giant eyeballs to signify the people’s
intent to keep an eye on the long overdue closure of the country’s dumps, which
should have been shut down in 2004, and to push for ecological solutions to the
waste and climate crisis.
"We have come here armed with eyeballs to let Secretary
Atienza know that we are watching closely how the DENR and Natural Solid Waste
Management Commission (NSWMC) will enforce the six-month ultimatum he gave for
local authorities to shut down their illegal dumps," Romy Hidalgo, Secretary of
the EcoWaste Coalition, said.
"There is no question about it. All dumpsites produce
leachates and emissions that poison our soil, water and air. They are all major
sources of greenhouse gases that cause climate change. We are taking government
to task for not acting quickly enough in favor of public health and the
environment," Beau Baconguis, Toxics Campaigner of Greenpeace Southeast Asia,
said.
Environment Secretary Ltio Atienza has given non-compliant
local government unit (LGUs) six months to close their open dumpsites or face
legal consequences.
"We will vigilantly monitor the action, or inaction, of the DENR, NSWMC and
other concerned entities to ensure not only the closure of the dumps, but their
clean up and rehabilitation as well for the good of the people and the
environment," the EcoWaste Coalition said.
