TARLAC, Philippines – Authorities intercepted 2 trucks carrying hazardous medical waste in Tarlac province on Thursday.
The rotting garbage, composed of medical refuse, came from hospitals in Metro Manila.
Based on a tip from an informant, an ABS-CBN News team followed one dump truck from a waste treatment facility in Parañaque.
The truck went to the Metro Clark Landfill in Capas, Tarlac, where police blocked its entry and asked if it had the required permit.
“Anong laman ng truck? Mga basura ho, galing sa mga ospital sa Maynila,” said one the dump truck’s workers, Jonathan Lacerna.
When police checked the truck, they found rotting hospital waste, human blood, and bloody hospital instruments.
“May nag-timbre kasi sa amin nito, kaya tiningnan namin kung totoo. Ayun, positive nga,” said Inspector Joel Maranion of the Tarlac provincial police.
“Nakakadiri sa loob, puro dugo, may mga laman, inuuod,” he added.
A foul smell was also coming from another parked truck.
“Hindi dapat binibiyahe ang hospital waste nang hindi tinutuyo o tinitreat. Puwede itong magkaroon ng nakakahawang sakit,” said Laura Jean Abando, Environmental Management Bureau regional official.
“May criminal liability ang mga responsible rito,” she warned.
The drivers and workers of both trucks admitted that they collected the hospital waste from Chevalier Enviro Services in Parañaque.
Treated waste?
However, Chevalier denies violating any law.
“Sabi sa amin iyung problema lang ay may tagas yung truck. Pababalikin na lang namin yung truck para ayusin yung tagas,” said Chevalier Enviro Services marketing official Nestor de Vera. “Treated lahat ng waste namin, hindi lang maiwasan na may moisture ng kaunti.”
Abando, however, believes that the hospital waste was not treated. “Kapag ganyang basa pa, mapula pa ang dugo, obviously hindi treated ito.”
Police and the environment department will investigate Chevalier, Metro Clark Landfill, and the truck company that transported the hospital waste.
They may be held liable for violating the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Waste Control Act. – ANC
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