Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units Concerns Benny D. Antiporda (middle), padlocks the entrance of the open dumpsite disguised as materials recovery facility (MRF) at Brgy. San Nicolas, Sta. Ana, Pampanga on Feb. 5 during an operation he personally conducted together with the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) central and regional offices, the Philippine National Police-Maritime Group, and Sta. Ana Municipal Police. Antiporda stressed that open dumpsite degrades the environment and poses serious health hazards to community living near the waste site. The closed-down facility was owned and operated by the local government of Sta. Ana, and had been issued with a notice of violation in 2018. The municipality, however, continued running the dumpsite without correcting their violations. Also in photo (L-R): are Solid Waste Management Section Chief Andresito Cabalar of EMB-Region 3 and Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service (SCIS) Director Hiro V. Masuda. ###