An environmental group has called for the suspension of operations at the Eco Protect Management Corp. landfill in Porac, Pampanga, citing public safety concerns and the alleged risk of an “environmental disaster” with the onset of the rainy season.
Pinoy Aksyon Inc., in a position paper, warned that the facility, located on “very unstable lahar,” poses a significant threat due to structural risks and potential public health hazards.
“What was once presented to the public as a ‘sanitary landfill’ has now revealed itself — through drone evidence and community testimony — as an environmental disaster,” the group said in a statement.
Pampanga Gov. Dennis Pineda earlier visited the landfill following resident complaints. Pineda ordered a temporary suspension of hauling passes for Bulacan truckers transporting waste to Eco Protect due to a lack of necessary permits.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources also initiated an investigation into the landfill’s operations to ensure compliance with environmental laws.
Pinoy Aksyon said the landfill’s location on unstable volcanic mud makes it highly susceptible to erosion and collapse, particularly during typhoons or earthquakes. Drone footage reportedly shows slope failures, uneven waste piling and a lack of structural reinforcements.
The group also raised alarms about the landfill’s proximity to the Pasig-Potrero River, a water source for several Pampanga towns including Bacolor, Santa Rita and Guagua. They warned of potential contamination of irrigation systems and aquifers by toxic leachate during floods.
“There is no functional Materials Recovery Facility, no air filtration infrastructure, no dust barriers,” the position paper noted. “Communities downwind — especially children and the elderly — are suffering the consequences.”
It said residents in nearby areas reported foul odors, dust and the potential spread of airborne pollutants like microplastics and pathogens. However, the group alleged the absence of accessible groundwater monitoring data, emergency response protocols or community engagement mechanisms from the landfill’s operator.
The group called for a moratorium on all landfill operations by Eco Protect; an independent, multisectoral review of the site by the government, involving geologists, hydrologists, environmental engineers, local leaders and affected residents; and public access to all environmental impact reports, groundwater monitoring data and compliance records. They also sought stronger enforcement of land-use and zoning laws in geologically hazardous areas to prevent future risks.
