TACLOBAN CITY – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte has launched a joint investigation into the transport and disposal of hazardous medical waste from Mandaue City, Cebu to a private treatment facility in Isabel town, raising alarm over the lack of local consultation and potential environmental risks.
Central to the probe is the issue of social acceptability, a key requirement under the Local Government Code and the Environmental Code of Leyte.
Board Members Carlo Loreto and Wilson Uy expressed serious concern that stakeholders at the provincial, municipal, and barangay levels were not informed about the shipments or the operations of Cleanaway Philippines Inc., the company handling the medical waste treatment.
“We cannot speak for the barangay or the municipality, but as representatives of the province, we were not consulted, we were not informed, and we do not know when this company began operating or when they started bringing in hazardous waste,” said Loreto and Uy in a joint statement. “We must act decisively to ensure our communities and environment are protected.”
Initial reports revealed that several drums of medical waste have already arrived at Cleanaway’s facility in Isabel, with over 300 containers identified as potentially hazardous.
In response, the provincial board has summoned officials from Cleanaway Philippines Inc. and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to clarify the circumstances and legal basis for the transport and disposal activities.
Loreto also filed a resolution urging that any medical waste already delivered to Isabel be returned to its point of origin in Mandaue City, emphasizing that Republic Act No. 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990) requires local government units to coordinate and seek consent when transporting hazardous waste to another locality.
The issue has sparked concern among local officials, residents, and environmental advocates, who are calling for stricter oversight, transparency, and proper enforcement of environmental safeguards, especially in the transport of toxic materials across local borders.
The ongoing investigation seeks to identify lapses in coordination and accountability and to reinforce policies that protect both the environment and public health.
(LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
