67 violators penalized for dirtying waterways as ‘Oplan Karayan’ continues
At least 67 violators have been penalized for dirtying the Balili River waterways under the city’s “Oplan Karayan” campaign aimed at determining the state of the river tributaries and stopping the illegal practices of communities around them.
City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO) Environment Management Division (EMD) Head Sofronio Pascua said inspections are being conducted under the campaign targeting households situated around the waterways.
Initial rounds of inspections covered the Balili River tributaries where they inspected structures in barangays Happy Homes, Dizon Subd., South and North Sanitary Camp, T. Alonzo and others.
In Happy Homes, 32 structures were inspected and ten were issued notices of violation (NOV) for dumping wastewater from toilet bowls, kitchen waste and animal waste directly into the river.
In Dizon Subd., 25 households were checked and 22 of them were also issued NOVs for similar violations.
The inspection also covered the following: Eight structures in South Sanitary Camp seven of which were issued both NOVs and Sanitation Orders; seven structures in North Sanitary Camp with one issued NOV; seven in T. Alonzo with three issued NOVs; seven in Alfonso Tabora with six issued NOVs and one Sanitary Order; six in Magsaysay Private Road, all of which were issued NOVs and Sanitary Orders; six in Sto. Nino Slaughterhouse with two NOVs and four Sanitation Orders; three in Camdas and one in Trancoville which was issued an NOV.
Pascua said common violations in said barangays were the direct disposal of wastewater from toilet bowls, kitchen waste, animal waste, solid waste and leaking septic tank wastes into the river.
He said that as of last week, inspection of Balili River tributaries continued this time targeting households at Pinsao Pilot and Pinget barangays.
It will be a continuing undertaking until all of the river tributaries have been covered, Pascua said.
He said filing of cases against the violations are being done as found necessary and endorsed to the City Legal Office (CLO).
Trash traps in rivers shall also be installed, in coordination with the City Engineering Office (CEO) and barangays.
Before the campaign, a total of 100 NOVs were issued by the CEPMO this year against individuals and households around four major river tributaries for dirtying the waterways.
Pascua reported that there were 47 NOVs issued around Balili River, 36 in Bued, 9 in Ambalanga and 8 in Galiano. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
