Republic of the Philippines

ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE

Tel. No. 560-8055 loc. 1150
Email add: enrdormoc@yahoo.com

July 9, 2019

INSPECTION REPORT

Subject : ASSESSMENT/INSPECTION REPORT

Address : Dump Site, Brgy. Macabug
Macabug, Ormoc City
Contact Person : Jay Scotch Betonio
Date of Inspection : July 5, 2019
Time of Inspection : 2:00 PM
Purpose : Verification of Macabug Dump Site
Closure Plan

Brief
rief Observation and Discussion

The inspection was conducted

conduc by the undersigned, together with the other
environment
vironment inspector from ENRO, to verify the details stated in the January 31, 2008
Macabug Dump Site Closure Plan. Please refer to Table 1.0 for the verification results. The
results were obtained through ocular assessments at the site as well as testimonials from
local residents living near the closed
clo dump site.

Table 1.0. Macabug dump Site Closure Plan Checklist.

PARAMETERS AS STATED IN THE JANUARY 2008 MACABUG
DISPOSAL FACILITY – ORMOC CITY CLOSURE PLAN
5.3. Site Clearing and Grading, Stabilization of Critical Slopes
(Page 30)
 “The site will then be successively cleared and the ground
compacted and leveled with a general gradient of >2% in the
west direction in order to prevent the formation of leachate
ponds at the bottom of the waste body and to support the
conveyance of the leachate.”
 “The waste body is enclosed by an earth embankment of 2 m
height and surrounded by a perimeter drain and a security
fence.”
5.4 Final Cover (Page 32)
 “The functions of the final cover are as follows:”
o To reduce the infiltration of precipitation into the waste and
hence to minimize leachate generation
o To prevent fires and bad odor
o To reduce littering and blowing out of waste material
o To reduce the breeding of vectors
o To serve as a vegetation layer”
 “The final cover shall be applied following the specification
indicated in the plan. The following are specific criteria and
VERIFICATION RESULTS
 The ground was level and no ponds
were observed. The gradient on the
west direction was more or less 50%.
 This parameter was not tested due to
lack of proper equipment.
o Currently, the locals have not observed
any leachate coming from the dumpsite.
o No bad odor was emitting from the area.
o Some of the waste material along the
edge of the dump site are already due to
the earth embankment being eroded
overtime.
o No vectors were observed in the area.
o The final cap is lush with grasses and
weeds.. Bananas dominate the northeast
to the southeast of the dumpsite
perimeter.
 Republic of the Philippines
ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE
Tel. No. 560-8055 loc. 1150
Email add: enrdormoc@yahoo.com
procedures that will be taken into account:
o A gradient of 2 to 5% will be established for horizontal
surfaces of the final cover to facilitate drainage from the site
to the periphery and to prevent the formation of ponds.
o Grasses, bushes and shrubs with shallow root system will be
planted in the vegetation layer. No trees and/or deep rooting
vegetation will be allowed to grow in the vegetation layer of
the final cap.”
5.5 Drainage System (Page 33)
 “The drainage system will be installed to reduce the amount of
leachate from the dump site.”
5.6 Gas Management System (Page 35)
 “The dump site in Macabug shall feature a passive gas control
system. Six gas vents shall be installed to release the landfill
gases as soon as possible before they can create negative
impacts on the surrounding areas.”
5.7 Leachate Collection (Page 35)
 “The leachate collection pipes will convey the leachate for
treatment to the leachate collection tank at the west side of the
area (see Figure 26).”
5.8 Leachate Treatment (Page 37)
 “The raw leachate from the waste will be collected in a baffled
tank.”
5.8 Leachate Treatment (Page 38)
 “The stabilization pond (Figure 29) will ensure further
treatment and stabilization.”
5.9 Access Road, Security Fence, Signage, and Utilities (Page 39)
 “Around the dump site area, a security fence shall be
constructed to prevent trespassing and the entry of stray
animals.”
5.9 Access Road, Security Fence, Signage, and Utilities
Utilitie (Page 40)
 “The fence will have a total length of about 550 meters and
will have a gate and a guard house at the south-west
south entrance
to regulate the traffic and access.”
 “Notice boards will be placed at the entrance to clearly indicate
name, purpose, activities,
vities, dangers, and other pertinent
information on the dump site operation/activities.”
 “The facility will have lighting around the site.”
 “Since the site does not have any water supply system,
o Part of the dumpsite, which is the
transitional disposal site, is elevated by a
few feet. This area has a 50% gradient
leading down to the other half, old
dumpsite.
o Grasses and other shallow rooted weeds
are presently growing at the top of the
dump site. Bananas dominate the
northeast to the southeast of the
dumpsite perimeter.
 No drainage system was observed at the
dump site.According
According to the locals, a 2
meter wide ditch which stretched along
the northwest
rthwest side of the dumpsite
served as a collection pond. However, no
treatment was done. Overtime the ditch
was covered by eroded soil and houses
were built on top of it.
 No gas control pipes were observed at
the dump site. According to a few loc
locals,
some PVC pipes were installed right
after the dump site was covered. After
one week however, the pipes were
stolen and no further efforts in installing
gas vents were made.
 No leachate collection pipes and
leachate collection tank were present at
the dump site.
 No baffled tank was present at the dump
site.
 No stabilization pond was present at the
dump site.
 No security fence was surrounding the
dump site. People and animals freely
pass in and out of the dump site. Some of
the residents even utilize the site as a
pasture aree for their goats and cows.
 No fence, guard house, and gate was
installed at the dump site.
 No notice boards were installed at the
dump site.
 No lighting was installed at the dump
site.
 This parameter was not confirmed
 Republic of the Philippines
ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE
Tel. No. 560-8055 loc. 1150
Email add: enrdormoc@yahoo.com

arrangement will be made that the shallow hand pump well because there were no personnel
west of the facility may be used by the site personnel for maintaining
intaining the dump site.
washing and basic hygiene.”

6.1 Social Aspects (Page 42)

 “In accordance with the law the LGU of the City of Ormoc will
provide assistance to the waste pickers. The 12 families whose
dwellings.”
7.2 Monitoring (Page 48-49)
 “Surface Water:
Water sampling will be done upstream and downstream from
the site to determine a possible impact of the dump site on
Panilahan River.”
 “Groundwater:
Groundwater will be sampled from the 3 identified monitoring
wells (see Fig 23).”
 “Subsidence:
The height off the dump site will be ascertained once a year. A
total of six measuring points will be used for the site”
7.3 Personnel
 “The management of the closed dump site will be the
responsibility of the General Service Office (GSO) of the City of
Ormoc. Two persons will be permanently assigned to the site
for operation and maintenance of facilities and systems; they
will also be in charge of the regular visual inspection of the
various components of the closed dump site.”
site.
 “The operation and maintenance personnel will be supported
by the site monitoring team (2 to 3 people) that will be
responsible for the conduct of the periodic monitoring activities
summarized in Table 7. During the time when the site will not
be manned by the maintenance personnel, the presence of a
security guard will assure around the clock security at the site.”
 According to locals, no assistance were
provided to any family of pickers living
at the dump site. Overtime, some of the
pickers relocated to other areas in Brgy.
Macabug while others stayed at the
dump site.
 According to locals, they were not aware
of any water sampling being conducted
at the Panilahan River.
 There were no designated monitoring
wells, thereby, no monitoring activities
were being conducted.
 According to locals, no regular
monitoring of the height of the dump
site is being conducted.
 CGSO has no assigned personnel to the
dump site.
 No regular inspections are being
conducted by the City of Ormoc.
 Republic of the Philippines
ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE
Tel. No. 560-8055 loc. 1150
Email add: enrdormoc@yahoo.com

Documentation

OLD DUMPSITE
(RED LINE)

BRGY.
TRANSITIONAL
PANILAHAN ROAD
DISPOSAL SITE
RIVER (YELLOWLINE)

Figure A. The Macabug Dump Site (taken from maps.google.com).

Figure B. Grasses and weeds growing over old dumpsite. Bananas lining the perimeter of the
area can be seen at the background.No
background. protruding gas vents can be seen.
 Republic of the Philippines
ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE
Tel. No. 560-8055 loc. 1150
Email add: enrdormoc@yahoo.com

Figure C. Grasses and weeds growing over transitional disposal site. Bananas lining the
eastern perimeter of the area can be seen on the right side. No protruding gas vents can be
seen.

TRANSITIONAL
DISPOSAL SITE

OLD
DUMPSITE

Figure D. Grasses and weeds growing over old dump site. Shown at the background is the
transitional disposal site which is elevated by a few feet from the old dump site.
 Republic of the Philippines
ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE
Tel. No. 560-8055 loc. 1150
Email add: enrdormoc@yahoo.com

Figure E. Goats (encircled) grazing on the grass growing on top of the old dumpsite.

Figure F. Slope on the southwest side of

o the transitional disposal site.. No fence or drainage
canals present. Notice the exposed
e waste material (encircled) on the lower surface.
 Republic of the Philippines
ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE
Tel. No. 560-8055 loc. 1150
Email add: enrdormoc@yahoo.com

Figure G. Exposed waste material (encircled) on the west side of the old dumpsite.

Figure H. Exposed waste material on the south side of the transitional disposal site.
 Republic of the Philippines
ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE
Tel. No. 560-8055 loc. 1150
Email add: enrdormoc@yahoo.com

Figure I. Slope on the west side of the transitional disposal site. No fence or drainage canals
present. Bananas and other trees and shrubs line the perimeter. The slope leads down to an
irrigation canal
nal used for the rice paddies shown on the background
background.

Figure
re J. Ditch (red lines) served as collection ponds.
 Republic of the Philippines
ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE
Tel. No. 560-8055 loc. 1150
Email add: enrdormoc@yahoo.com

Figure K.. Ditch (red lines) served as collection ponds.

 Republic of the Philippines
ENVIRONMENT & NATURAL RESOURCES OFFICE
Tel. No. 560-8055 loc. 1150
Email add: enrdormoc@yahoo.com

Recommendation

1. Gases trapped from underneath the dumpsite should be released by installing gas
vents at the top. Once installed, the released gases can then be tested regularly until
the results meet safety standards.
2. Soil, surface water, and ground water should be tested regularly for heavy metals
and other contaminants.
3. The subsidence of the dumpsite should be adjusted accordingly.
4. Cemented dikes can be installed around the dumpsite to prevent further erosion
and exposure of waste material. Drainage canals can be incorporated within the
dikes to facilitate water flow. This will then lead to a baffled tank and a stabilization
pond beforeore being released. Since some waste materials still release harmful
contaminants even after a few years,
years, regular testing of the liquid coming from the
drainage canals should still be conducted.
5. Another option would be to enclose the dumpsite in sturdy fencing as per the
specification found in the closure plan.
plan Points of entry and exit should be kept
secure to avoid trespassers and stray animals from wandering inside.
6. The dumpsite is an ideal area to be turned into an Agri-Tourism orr Demo Farm site.
This will demonstrate how a wasteland can be turned into a beautiful o oasis and
further develop as a center of agri-education.
agri
7. Residents living on the area, some of which are previous pickers of the dumpsite,
can be given the opportunity to serve as maintenance personnel.

JAY SCOTCH BETONIO FRANZ BENEDICT O. BARABAD

Environment Inspector Environment Inspector
ENRO ENRO

WINTHROP A. PIRANTE
Environment Inspector
ENRO

Noted:

RAFAEL JUNNAR P. DUMALAN

EMS II, Head ENRO