Malacañang strongly condemned the illegal dumping of garbage outside the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) office in Davao City, calling the act a blatant disregard for the law, public safety, and proper environmental management.
During a Palace press briefing on Monday, June 8, Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro criticized local leaders involved in the incident, saying abusive officials should not undermine legal processes meant to protect communities.
“Ang tahasang pagpapakita ng kawalan ng galang sa batas, proseso at rule of law ang siyang dapat na ituring na ugaling basura,” Castro said. “Ito ang dapat na itapon ng mga abusadong leader na imbes na sumunod sa proseso para sa kapakanan ng komunidad ay maninisi pa sa mahigpit na pagpapatupad ng mga panuntunan.”
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) earlier denounced the dumping of trash in front of the DENR office on June 3, warning that the act violated environmental laws and posed potential health risks to the public.
Castro also described the incident as a “mapanganib na distraksyon” amid ongoing efforts to address safety concerns following the trash slide at the Davao City Sanitary Landfill on May 20.
The Palace stressed that local government units should prioritize fixing landfill management systems and ensuring proper waste disposal practices instead of engaging in actions that could further endanger the public.
“Ang ilegal na pagtatambak ng basura ay hindi lamang iresponsable. Malinaw na isa itong aksyon na hindi dapat pamarisan ng mga ibang LGU ng bansa,” Castro said.
She added that the DENR, under the leadership of Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, remains committed to enforcing environmental laws and protecting both the environment and public welfare.
“Para sa mga LGU, linisin niyo ang inyong mga bakuran. Magtrabaho kayo para sa inyong bayan. Huwag pamarisan ang mga maling gawain na ikapapahamak ng taong-bayan,” she added.
