DENR mulls filing charges vs. lab over dumping of waste on beach

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is considering filing charges against the laboratory that dumped its medical waste on the seaside in Catanduanes, its official said on Wednesday.

“Dito sa Catanduanes, meron tayong nahuli na nag-dump lang ng kanilang mga laboratory wastes,  healthcare waste, sa dalampasigan. Kinakasuhan na natin ito,” DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

(Here in Catanduanes, we caught a laboratory that dumped its healthcare waste on the seaside. We are charging the laboratory)

Leones told GMA News Online that the DENR is still waiting for the explanation of the laboratory on the issue before making a final decision on filing charges.

Earlier, eight out of 23 children in Virac, Catanduanes tested positive for COVID-19 after playing near the area where a diagnostics laboratory dumps its hazardous wastes.

The Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) found violations in the laboratory's waste dumping practices.

The laboratory was given until February 9 to submit its position paper regarding the incident. —LBG, GMA News