MANILA, Philippines – Several environment advocate groups have slammed the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for allegedly allowing its regional offices to burn hazardous wastes used in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. 8749 or the country’s Clean Air Act — which should be enforced by DENR in the first place. BFPP and other groups claimed that the DENR’s EMB issued the memorandum last March 26, where regional offices were allowed to use crematoria to burn COVID-19 wastes. Antiporda emphasized that it was unlikely to burn waste through the crematoria, given that these establishments have their hands full due to the rising number of dead COVID-19 patients. “This said, DENR is now creating another health disaster on top of this COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 08, 2020 12:44 UTC