Greenpeace Water Patrol Dismantles Blockade

Taytay pledges best practice waste dump rehab

Taytay, Rizal, 23 June 2009–The municipality of Taytay has agreed to
adopt stringent procedures on dumpsite closure following a blockade by
Greenpeace Water Patrol activists at the 13 hectare polluting garbage
repository located on the banks of Laguna Lake.

Early this morning, volunteers from Greenpeace shut the gates of the
dumpsite in Barangay Muzon with chains and metal bars. Scaffolds with
signs that said “Stop Water Pollution! Clean Up, Not Cover Up!” were
used to further block the closed gates to prevent trucks from entering.
Greenpeace, together with the EcoWaste Coalition, is demanding a
proper clean up of the Taytay open dumpsite, rather than the cosmetic
cover up currently being undertaken. Taytay is a two time “winner” of
the Laguna Lake Development Authority (LLDA) “Nakakasulasok Award”
“shameful award” for the dumpsite located right beside the lake.

After a visit to the site, and two hours of negotiations, Taytay Mayor
Joric Gacula, agreed to close down the Taytay municipal dumpsite in
accordance with recommendations developed by Greenpeace and EcoWaste
Coalition, which improve on the superficial cover up as put forth by the
Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The guidelines include
the need for excavation and treatment for waste dumps located near water
bodies as toxic effluents can contaminate water even after 30 years.

“The proper closure of the Taytay municipal dumpsite can only be a
milestone in the protection of Laguna Lake if the other dumpsites in the
vicinity follow suit. Greenpeace is calling on other municipalities
such as Angono—whose own dumpsite was also closed improperly—to also
clean up their act and adopt these guidelines. The government must
realize that the commitment to reverse the severe degradation of the
country’s largest inland freshwater body is a comitment to safeguard the
health and welfare of communities and future generations,” said
Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner Beau Baconguis.

“We’ll be watching how the Taytay local government will carry out its
commitment to close and decontaminate this waste dump. We urge Mayor
Gacula to set a precedent in holistic dump rehabilitation so that he can
leave a legacy of clean and safe environment for the people,” said
EcoWaste spokesperson Manny Calonzo.

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