The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it has begun addressing the dumping of garbage on Aeta ancestral land in Subic, Zambales after the issue was featured in the GMA public affairs documentary I-Witness.

The documentary, ‘Ibinasurang Paraiso’ by Kara David, highlighted the large volume of waste dumped on the ancestral land, the foul odor affecting the community, and reports that medical waste from the COVID-19 pandemic was among the garbage left at the site.

It also reported that water sources in the area had become contaminated.

Marites Gonzales, an Aeta resident, said they were told initially that the area would be improved but garbage trucks later began dumping waste there.

"‘Yun nga po ang sabi nila, pagagandahin daw 'yun. Pagkabilang po ng ilang buwan, naayos na po 'yun. 'Yun na nga po, may mga malalaki nang truck na may lamang basura," she said.

The Subic Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) said it was unaware that an indigenous community lived in the area.

"Hindi namin alam, ma'am, na may community doon sa area," Mary Grace Molina, OIC of MENRO, said.

Subic Municipal Engineer Marian del Castillo said the site was used as a temporary solution because of the large amount of garbage that needed to be disposed of.

"During that time po, ang gusto lang namin maitapon ang napakaraming basura. Immediate solution lang po ito, so hindi po magtatagal," she said.

The local government stopped dumping waste at the site in 2025 after the Aeta community raised complaints. However, the garbage remained in the area.

Following the documentary's broadcast, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) met with members of the Aeta community affected.

The DENR's Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Central Luzon said it is now coordinating with the provincial government to transfer the remaining waste to an authorized sanitary landfill.

The agency said the transfer is part of an approved plan for the safe closure and rehabilitation of the site.

The EMB added that it continues to inspect the area and work with the local government to ensure the waste is removed and the rehabilitation plan is properly carried out.