BACOLOD City – Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said he would lift the closure order he issued against DLC Junk Shop once the latter settles the fines for violation of environmental regulations.
The junk shop on Mabini Street, Barangay 25 was where stolen telecommunication batteries were found last month.
On July 6, the city government padlocked the junk shop for “apparent misrepresentation” of its authorized operations.
The establishment was a storage facility for potentially hazardous materials, including telco batteries, for which it was not authorized, according to the city’s Environment and Natural Resources Office (ENRO) and Business Permit and Licensing Office.
The DLC Junk Shop was not able to produce pertinent documents to engage in the battery recycling process, such as an Environmental Compliance Certificate or Certificate of Non-Coverage and Hazardous Waste Generator Registration Certificate from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau.
Benitez has proposed to the city council to create an ordinance on handling hazardous items.
In the meantime, the mayor plans to craft an executive order that hazardous items, to be identified by the ENRO and City Legal Office, should have a permit from the legitimate seller, and a report must be filed with the city government.
Meanwhile, on the allegations of accepting and storing the stolen batteries, the junk shop’s owner told the mayor and the city officials during their recent meeting that they have evidence to counter the charges filed against them by the telco companies./PN
