By: Ellalyn de Vera-Ruiz
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has rejected the request of the Quezon City government to reopen the Payatas sanitary landfill until December.
DENR Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs Jonas Leones noted the adverse findings of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) against the continued operation of the Payatas dumpsite, officially known as the Quezon City Sanitary Landfill (QCSLF).
These include numerous environmental violations and susceptibility to trash slide.
“In this connection, much to our regret, we are constrained to deny your request to utilize the landfill until it reaches its full capacity or until December 2017 based on the findings made by the EMB Central Office, MGB and EMB National Capital Region,” Leones told Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista in a letter.
