In Zambales, a community of Aetas decries a dumpsite built in the middle of a forest

A community of Aetas has long considered the virgin forest of Sitio Tibag, Brgy. Naugsol in Subic, Zambales home. A clean brook quenches their thirst whenever they trek to bring down their produce to sell in the market. A lush forest provides them a cool and safe place to rest and sleep before hiking back up again.

But according to Kara David's "i-Witness" documentary 'Ibinasurang Paraiso,' the local government of Subic Zambales in 2019 made space for a temporary dump site near their home.

The Aetas were initially pleased having seen a road being paved; they thought it was going to make their lives easier. But shortly after, trucks upon trucks of garbage came, which included the dangerous hospital waste.

"Parang nagagalit po. Hindi ko po maintindihan ang sarili ko po," Erlinda, an Aeta resident said in the documentary. "Naaawa din po ako sa lugar — bakit ginanito po nila? Masakit sa damdamin."

She shares what they have been told by authorities: large swathes of plastic would first be placed on the earth, to serve as cover and protection before dumping trash. "Tapos kada tapon ng basura, tatabunan ng lupa para hindi magkalat ng basura," Erlinda adds. They were also promised a wall to contain the trash and prevent contamination.

"Naghahanap ng location kung saan pwede mag dump ng basura. Nung nakita na isolated yung area, walang nakatira, gubat yung area, pagsamantala duon muna inilagay," said Marian del castillo, municipal engineer of Subic LGU.

Adds Mary Grace Molina, the OIC for the MENRO office, "hindi namin alam na may community sa area. Kung alam namin na may community, hindi namin itinuloy duon."

But the documentary showed the location of the dump site is right within their ancestral lands.

It also showed how seven years later, the paved road is now lined with trash. The air stinks of garbage, and flies are everywhere. The brook where Aetas often refresh themselves now show signs of contamination.

The dumpsite has also displaced a number of Aetas from their homes, relocating their lives and small farms to avoid the smell, the flies, and the host of problems the dumpsite has brought.

According to the documents "Ibinasurang Paraiso" obtained, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) discovered the dumpsite in January 2022 and immediately said it was against the law. It ordered the local government of Subic to close and rehabilitate the dumpsite.

But it took another three years, in September 2025, when the LGU finally took action after the Aeta community complained.

"October 2025, hindi na nag-operate because of the complaint," Atty. Serafin Alzate, the municipal legal officer of the LGU said in the documentary.

In the documentary, former Aeta chieftain Virgilio Delos Santos said they had actually complained about it as early as 2019 "pero kinausap kami ng Subic mayor."

They eventually reached an agreement: The LGU will pay the community P10,000 a month — money the community decided to accept because whether or not they approved, the project will have proceeded anyway, Delos Santos said.

The LGU of Subic denied the agreement but it "accepts accountability sa nangyari," Alzate said.

"The LGU is preparing for reparations," he added, saying "this is a concerted effort kaya sana frequent din yung pagpunta nila dito so we will be informed kung ano pa ang pwede naming gawin."

In the March 2026 Cease and Desist Order of DENR, it was written that the LGU needed to remove the trash within 15 days.

But the LGU says it's not feasible because to do so would entail a large sum of money.

"Kailangan ng budget. Based sa engineering, kailangan ng P78M para ma-rehabilitate yung area. Naka request na sa DPWH at least 60M for rehabilitation," Del Castillo said.

"Hindi pwede magtanggal ang basura. Ilang taong iho-haul yung basura, Puede namin tambakan ng lupa [at lagyan ng] vent. Ang gagawin na lang namin ay prevention na lang na hindi kumalat ang contamination," Del Castillo added.

In the documentary, Erlinda expressed grief and anger. "Wag naman sana ginanon ang bundok," she said. "Pag nagti-tinda kami sa palengke, lagi nilang sinasabi, 'walisan at linisan ang puwesto.' Agad-agad nilang sinasabi, at sumusunod naman kami. Pero siła, parang bingi." — LA, GMA News