DENR Criticizes Baste Duterte’s Order to Dump Garbage Outside Regional Office
BASTE DUTERTE – What began as a response to Davao City’s mounting waste crisis has now triggered a public confrontation between Mayor Baste Duterte and environmental authorities.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), has strongly denounced the dumping of garbage outside its Region XI office in Davao City. The agency described the action as illegal and counterproductive, emphasizing that it diverts attention from ongoing efforts to address safety concerns following the recent landfill tragedy in the city.
EMB Director Michael Drake Matias stressed that the act violates Republic Act No. 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which prohibits littering and unauthorized disposal of waste. According to the bureau, maintaining proper waste management practices is crucial, particularly at a time when authorities are focused on resolving issues related to the city’s landfill operations.
“Dumping trash in front of government offices is not only unlawful, it undermines the very principles of ecological solid waste management. Our focus must remain on protecting lives, rehabilitating the landfill, and ensuring compliance with environmental standards,” Matias said.
The controversy arose after Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte ordered garbage to be deposited in front of the DENR XI office. The mayor blamed the DENR for the city’s mounting waste collection problems and said the move was intended to highlight the seriousness of the situation. He argued that agency personnel should witness firsthand the challenges faced by residents and local authorities after the suspension of landfill operations.
“To manage waste collection moving forward, we have identified additional collection points, including one in front of the DENR XI office, so they can personally appreciate the volume of garbage that accumulates when an essential public service is halted indefinitely,” Duterte said.
The dispute follows the EMB’s decision to suspend operations at the Davao City Sanitary Landfill on May 21. The closure came one day after a trash slide occurred at the facility, resulting in the deaths of two individuals, injuries to two others, and leaving one person still missing and undergoing retrieval efforts.
As tensions continue between local and environmental authorities, the incident highlights the challenges of balancing public safety, environmental regulations, and effective waste management in Davao City.
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