The City Environment and Parks Management Office issued a total of 249 notices of violation (NOVs) against persons caught illegally disposing wastewater from septic tanks and animal waste or engaging in illegal burning in 2024.
Assistant CEPMO Officer Marivic Empizo said there were 233 cases of wastewater disposal due to overflowing septic tanks and illegal operation of piggeries directly discharging wastewater to the sewer or canals, seven cases of burning of wastes or dried leaves and nine cases of soil dumping.
These had been issued notices with warning or with corresponding fines with recommendation to comply with corrective measures.
Follow-through monitoring continued to be conducted by the CEPMO.
This year, the CEPMO reported 35 apprehensions for wastewater dumping, with 23 issued NOV with warning and recommendations, 17 already complied with recommendations, six for follow-up, 11 with penalty and four paid fines.s
Mayor Benjamin Magalong had consistently urged intensifying the campaign to safeguard the city’s river tributaries from households and establishments illegally draining wastewater into canals causing pollution of the waterways and rivers.
He again warned those who continue to defy cleanliness rules of their culpability for violation of the city’s Environment Code and Republic Act 9275 or the Clean Water Act.
“We have to stop thinking only of our own convenience. We have to think of our children and the kind of environment that they will inherit for their future. If we continue to destroy our rivers, then what kind of future would our children and grandchildren have? If only for that, we should be willing to change our ways,” he said. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
