A TOTAL of 47 establishments has been closed down in Bulacan and Bataan since Friday for non-compliance with environmental laws and polluting the river system leading to the Manila Bay.
Lormelyn Claudio, Region 3 Environmental Management Bureau chief of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said the establishments were found violating environmental laws and most have no environmental clearance certificates.
Sixteen of the establishments are located in the City of Meycauayan, 24 in Obando town and three in Marilao, all in Bulacan, while four are in Mariveles, Bataan.
Claudio said 15 establishments were served with notices of violations and cease and desist orders on Friday, while 32 were served with notices on Sunday
The businesses found with violations in Meycauayan include those engaged in leather and jewelry production, fishpond operators in Obando, and a beach resort, hotel and manufacturing plants in Mariveles, Bataan.
These establishments would be monitored closely and would remain closed until they comply with necessary requirements, Claudio added.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu in a media briefing earlier, said that aside from closing the establishments, the violators have to pay a fine from P20,000 to P200,000 per day until they have fully complied with the measures against polluting the environment.
On Sunday, various government agencies and other sectoral groups joined the simultaneous massive cleanup and rehabilitation efforts to Save Manila Bay that was held in Barangay Tawiran in Obando, Bulacan.
Source: manilatimes.net
