Subic Aeta community allowed temporary use for dumping; LGU continues site cleanup

The Aeta community whose ancestral land became a dumpsite — as featured in the GMA Public Affairs documentary “Ibinasurang Paraiso” — said they agreed only to its temporary use as a dumping site, but the operations continued far longer than they had expected.

In Mariz Umali’s report on “24 Oras” on Tuesday, the local government of Subic, Zambales said it had stopped operations at the Barangay Naugsol dumpsite — located on ancestral land — as early as 2022.

It added that the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) officially ordered the site's closure in November 2025, but despite these actions, mountains of garbage remained abandoned at the site in 2026.

The Subic LGU maintained that it followed the proper process in using the ancestral land as a dumpsite.

“Ang pansamantalang paggamit ng lugar noon ay may pahintulot ng pamilyang Tenoria na may karapatan sa lupa, gayon din ang tribal council ng Ayta Ambala at ng mga opisyal ng Barangay Naugsol,” Subic Public Information Office Head Juan Deveraturda III said.

(The temporary use of the area at the time had the consent of the Tenoria family, who claimed rights over the land, as well as the Ayta Ambala Tribal council and the officials of Barangay Naugsol.)

“Ang mga basurang naitapon noon ay na-segregate na ng bawat barangay bago dinala sa lugar, kaya wala naman itong mabahong amoy at hindi na rin pinamumugaran ng mga langaw,” he added.

(The garbage disposed of there had already been segregated by each barangay before being brought to the site, so it did not emit a foul odor and was no longer infested with flies.)

The leaders of the Ayta Ambala confirmed that they had previously allowed the local government to use Barangay Naugsol as a dumpsite, but said they did not expect the facility to remain in operation for such a long period.

“‘Yung pagpayag po namin eh parang concern din po namin sa buong Subic, kasi buong Subic po, ‘yung basura po ng buong Subic ‘yung nilagay diyan,” Ayta Ambala Chieftain Francis Santos said.

(We agreed because we were also concerned about the entire municipality of Subic, since the garbage from all over Subic was being brought there.)

“Hindi naman po namin alam na tatagal. Wala kaming magagawa kasi dun lang din kami nanghihingi ng tulong sa kaniya,” said Susan Cohig, the tribal group’s chieftain, when they allowed the operation.

(We did not know it would last this long. We couldn't do anything because he was also the one we turned to for help.)

The National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) confirmed that the area converted into a dumpsite is part of the Ayta Ambala's ancestral domain and that the indigenous community has rights over the land.

However, the NCIP pointed out that the decision to use the area as a dumpsite should first have been brought to its office for consultation.

“While we recognize po, if na-compel man po ang LGU na doon dalhin yung basura ng kanilang municipality, sana po na-consult po ang aming opisina para nakita po kung pumayag talaga, lalo na yung tribal leaders,” NCIP Region 3 Regional Director Atty. Joyce Lapuz said.

(While we recognize that the LGU may have been compelled to bring its municipality's garbage there, our office should have been consulted first so we could determine whether the community, especially the tribal leaders, had truly given their consent.)

Private property claim

While the NCIP has already confirmed the Ayta Ambala's rights over the land, the Tenoria family claims ownership of the property, as mentioned by the Subic LGU.

“Naipanalo po namin sa kaso po yun, ma'am, kasi area po namin, ma'am, kami po nag-improve, ma'am. Kumbaga, ‘yun yung inaano namin na karapatan na mapayagan ng munisipyo, ma'am,” Jose Tenoria said.

(We won the case over that, ma'am, because it is our area and we were the ones who developed it. That is why we believe we have the right to be granted permission by the municipality.)

The NCIP refuted the claim, saying it has no record of any private property within the ancestral domain.

“As far as our office is concerned po, wala pong record dito na private property po yan. At covered po yan ng ancestral domain so ang community po ang may-ari niyan,” NCIP’s Lapuz answered.

(As far as our office is concerned, there is no record that the area is private property. It is covered by the ancestral domain, so it belongs to the community.)

Meanwhile, the DENR said that even if the local government and the alleged landowners had an agreement, there are still strict guidelines that must be observed when establishing an open dumpsite.

“Open dumping per se kahit po sa pribadong lupa ‘yan or sa lupang pagmamay-ari ng lokal na pamahalaan o ng national government, hindi po pinapayagan ng batas,” DENR Region 3 Regional Director Martin Despi said.

(Open dumping itself is prohibited by law, whether it is on private land or land owned by the local or national government.)

Health risks

In Umali’s report, some residents were forced to leave the area because of the health risks posed by the dumpsite, including the family of Guin Pulagay, who once lived at the foot of the dumpsite but no longer has a permanent home.

“Naawa na po ako sa mga anak ko po doon na po naubo, hinihika po sila. Minsan po naconfine napo yung bunso ko dahil po sa ganyan po na amoy,” Guin Pulagay said.

“Hindi na po kami nagpatuloy na tumira po doon,” he added.

(I felt sorry for my children because they kept coughing and suffering asthma attacks. My youngest child was even hospitalized because of the foul smell. We could no longer continue living there.)

The dumpsite reportedly started operations in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Site cleanup

The Ayta Ambala community said its only wish is to have the garbage completely removed from their ancestral land or, if that is no longer possible, covered with soil.

“Gusto na po ng mga tribo namin na yung mga basura po diyan ay tanggalin na po diyan. Kung hindi na po kayang tanggalin, napagdesisyunan na po ng buong tribo na tabunan na lang po ng lupa,” Ayta Ambala Kagawad Jonalyn Dolojan said.

(Our tribe wants all the garbage removed from the area. If it can no longer be removed, the entire tribe has decided that it should simply be covered with soil.)

The Subic LGU said it is gradually implementing the safe closure and rehabilitation plan it submitted to the DENR.

“Unti-unti ring nililinis at inaayos ang dating dumpsite ayon sa kakayahan at pondong mayroon ang lokal na pamahalaan,” Deveraturda said.

(The former dumpsite is gradually being cleaned up and rehabilitated based on the local government's available resources and funding.)

“Mula nang mag-order ang DENR ng closure naglagay na ng bantay para walang makakalusot magtatapon,” Barangay Naugsol Captain Tadeo Binuya added.

(Since the DENR ordered the closure, guards have been stationed at the site to ensure that no one can enter and dump garbage there.) — Lyjah Tiffany Bonzo/BAP, GMA News