CITY of San Fernando—“There are no more illegal dumps in Sasmuan, and no more garbage in riverbanks.”
So said Mayor Nardo Velasco on Friday, as he led the clearing operations and closure of the illegal dump sighted by Gov. Lilia Pineda ,when she made an inspection on the dredging operations of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on the Sasmuan River.
Recently, upon seeing the big volume of garbage dumped in the Sasmuan riverbanks, Pineda expressed dismay and immediately ordered Velasco and Arthur Punsalan provincial government environment and natural resources officer to clean and close the illegal dump.
With this, the mayor immediately instructed his municipal personnel to lead the clearing operations of the illegal dump.
He also notified the residents and barangay officials that the illegal dump is already closed and no one is allowed to dump his or her waste, both from residential and commercial establishments.
Ask where to dump the generated waste, the mayor said that barangay officials will operate their own barangay material recovery facilities (MRFs), where they will do the proper segregation of biodegradable from nonbiodegradable and, if possible, do the segregation at source—from their respective houses and establishments.
He said the residents had been forced to bring their waste at the said dump due to the closure of the MRF in Barangay Santa Lucia, as the road leading to the MRF is under construction for more than six months.
With regard to the clearing operations mandated by the Supreme Court, Velasco clarified that their role is only to assist the DPWH in the demolition of illegal fishponds.
He said that on certain Eduardo Santos, fishpond owner, aired his willingness to demolish his fishpond situated beside the riverbanks.
The DPWH will start the demolition of illegal structures on Tuesday to clear the waterways, and the municipal government is willing to assist the agency should they ask assistance.
The mayor said he also met with the informal settlers to reiterate the order of the Supreme Court and the assistance that would be given by the provincial government.
“Informal settlers are not natives of Sasmuan. They came from Bulacan, but they are now residents of the town, as they were here for so many years now. They are now speaking in Capampangan,” he said.
Image credits: Photo Courtesy Of Sasmuan Town