Subic Aetas seek accountability over open dump in ancestral domain

SUBIC, ZAMBALES, Philippines — More than a year after indigenous leaders raised concerns over an alleged illegal open dump inside an Aeta ancestral domain here, community leaders are demanding accountability over what they describe as the government’s failure to stop its operation sooner.

The issue has regained attention following renewed scrutiny of the dump, with Aeta leaders questioning why authorities appeared to have allowed it to operate for years despite earlier complaints and whether any officials will be held accountable.

Evangeline Rodriguez, an Aeta leader and national chair of Alyansa ng Katutubong Kababaihan ng Pilipinas Inc. (Alikkap), said she formally brought the matter last year to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), the Subic municipal government, the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and other concerned agencies after members of the indigenous community sought her help.

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Rodriguez, who also serves as the environmental representative of the Regional Development Council in Central Luzon, said the NCIP told her it could do little because the mayor had allegedly refused to meet with the agency.

“If the mayor refuses to face them, is there nothing they can do? They were clearly negligent, and that’s why this happened,” Rodriguez told the Inquirer on Tuesday.

She also questioned why the EMB allegedly failed to act despite reportedly knowing about the dump’s existence as early as 2022.

“If they already knew about it, why didn’t they do anything? Why was it only closed in 2025? What were they doing from 2022 to 2025?” Rodriguez asked.

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Stoppage order

On Tuesday, the DENR-EMB in Central Luzon said it had already ordered the closure of the open dump and has been assisting the local government in rehabilitating the area.

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In a statement sent to the Inquirer, the DENR said it issued a cease-and-desist order on March 16 against the local government-operated open dump after determining that the facility was operating in violation of environmental laws.

The agency said operations at the site were ordered halted, and inspection and compliance teams were immediately deployed.

“As we remain steadfast in enforcing environmental laws and exploring alternative technologies for managing waste, we urge every local government unit to fully implement Ecological Solid Waste Management programs within its respective jurisdictions,” the DENR said.

Rodriguez said rehabilitation alone is not enough.

She said government agencies should also determine who allowed the dump to operate inside an ancestral domain and consider compensation for affected indigenous communities whose livelihoods and environment were allegedly damaged.

For members of the Naugsol Aeta Farmers Association, the impact has been severe.

Association chair Kelly Arizala said about 100 Aeta families depend on farming for their livelihood, but many have abandoned portions of their farmland because of the dump.

“Farming there has completely stopped, so they had to move to another area with steeper terrain,” Arizala said in a separate interview.

Thorough investigation

She added that the community’s water sources had also been affected.

Arizala said dumping activities have stopped and garbage is now being hauled out of the area as part of rehabilitation efforts.

Still, she said residents remain uncertain about what comes next.

“We don’t know what the next step will be,” Arizala added.

The Aeta leaders said they want rehabilitation to be accompanied by a thorough investigation into how the dump was allowed to operate for years, including possible lapses by government agencies responsible for enforcing environmental laws and protecting indigenous peoples’ rights.

They also urged authorities to ensure that affected communities are fully consulted on the rehabilitation of their ancestral land and on restoring their livelihoods.

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Local officials declined to comment, saying they were awaiting the DENR assessment of the issue. INQ