The MIMAROPA office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has sealed the water facilities of two fast food restaurants in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro province, for releasing wastewater into the Calapanriver without the necessary discharge permits from the agency.

Served with cease and desist orders signed by Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) -MIMAROPA Director Atty. Michael Drake Matias on March 7, 2019 were Chowking Foods Corp. (Calapan) and Jolibee Foods Corp. (Calapan I and II).

“I hope this (issuance of CDO) serves as a warning to all establishments that we are serious in our work to protect our oceans, rivers, lakes and all bodies of water,” DENR-MIMAROPA Executive Director Henry Adornado said.

“We will continue issuing CDOs to establishments found to be violating environmental laws,” he added.

The two erring restaurants were found operating without discharge permits, and for releasing partially treated wastewater that exceeds the DENR effluent standards into Calapanriver in violation of Republic Act No. 9275 or the Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004.

The CDO also cited the restaurants for having “contributed to the failing quality of the receiving body of water, the Calapanriver, which happens to be an established Water Quality Management Area.

Among the water facilities sealed by authorities include the kitchen down to the comfort rooms, specifically the faucets, kitchen sinks, lavatory, sewer lines, outlet pipes, etc.

Aside from the closure, the establishments are also liable for fines, ranging from P10,000 to P200,000 per day of violation, in accordance with RA 9275 and its implementing rules and regulations. ###