Bacolod to file charges vs illegal dumpers

BACOLOD City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has warned residents who illegally dumped their garbage that the City will trace and file charges against them.

This was after a video of illegal dumping was sent to the social media account of the mayor over the weekend, showing a dump truck with two individuals illegally disposing garbage along Palanca Road.

Benitez said it was already the second incident of illegal dumping caught on camera.

The first incident was in the area of Barangay Villamonte where a man was caught illegally disposing garbage beside the road.

“This kind of irresponsible behavior has no place in Bacolod City,” Benitez said.

He said they will track down those involved and take the necessary action.

“If anyone knows the owner of the vehicle, please inform us,” he added.

City Legal Officer (CLO) Karol Joseph Chiu also said they are now conducting an investigation to determine the identity of the individuals involved in illegal dumping.

Once they have the complete data, he said the violators will be charged with violations of anti-littering ordinance and Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

He said this will serve as a lesson to those who engaged in illegal dumping because they are not just destroying the environment, but they are also destroying the image of the city.

Chiu noted that most of the violators were pedicab and tricycle drivers who were hired by the homeowners.

The CLO urged the barangay officials to monitor their areas of jurisdiction to prevent the illegal dumping. (MAP)