The Pampanga provincial government has suspended all hauling passes for trucks from Bulacan for 15 days after discovering during inspection that garbage and hazardous waste have been transported illegally to a landfill in Porac.

Authorities were shocked to find 15 trucks carrying waste, one of which contained hazardous materials like used dextrose, without proper labeling.

Officials said this violates the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act.

“‘Yung mga dump trucks po na naharang kahapon may hauling pass po, pero ‘yung hauling pass po nila is for sand and gravel. Nagtataka po kami bakit basura po ‘yung dala nila. May violation po ‘yon sa pass po na ini-issue po ng probinsya,” Governor Delta Pineda of Pampanga said.

A June 10 meeting between the Quarry Operators Association and the Haulers and Truckers Association confirmed that some haulers from Bulacan were transporting garbage without proper permits.

“Naghihintay na lang po kami ng report from the DENR. Majority po kasi ng mga nakita natin is from Bulacan, ‘yung basura is from Bulacan. So I will coordinate a meeting with the Bulacan truckers para linawin po ang sitwasyon,” Pineda added.

The suspension aims to protect communities nearby from foul odors and health risks linked to hazardous waste.

Authorities expect to release the findings of the investigation within 15 days.