The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Environmental Management Bureau III issued a Notice of Violation against R.U. Aquino Construction and Development Corp. (RUA) last July 17.
RUA is the operator of the new uptown public wet market and was given a franchise to operate as a wet public market by the administration of Tarlac City Mayor Cristy Angeles after rescinding the contract of the Paliparan Market for violation of environmental laws and the alleged breach of the agreement between the city government and Paliparan.
In the notice issued by the DENR under Ref. No. EMBR3-2024-TA-III-C and PAB Case No. 03-00274-24-A/W, it stated that RUA violated the provisions of PD 1586 or the “Environmental Impact Statement System Law”, R.A. 8749 or the “Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999”, R.A. 9275 or the “Philippine Clean Water Act of 2004”, and their respective Implementing Rules and Regulations.
DENR said that RUA has failed to implement proper housekeeping, improper maintenance of drain pipes inside of the wet market causing muddy and filthy floors. It also said that RUA has no Material Recovery Facility; failure to submit quarterly SMR and semi-annual CMR since its operation and it has no Environmental Clearance Certificate (ECC) posted on the entrance gate of the market.
The notice further stated that RUA failed to submit its Self-Monitoring Report for the period 2nd quarter to 4th quarter of 2023 and 1st quarter of 2024 on both under R.A. 8749 and R.A. 9275.
DENR Regional Director Martin Jose Despi signed the notice.
It can be remembered that in 2021, the city hall ordered the closure of the Paliparan, a privately owned company operating the wet public market for the same violations and accused the company of violating the provisions under the privatization lease agreement signed by then Mayor Gelacio Manalang and approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod in 2014.
In 2022, The city hall encircled the 3-hectare public market with concrete barriers and galvanized sheets, stopping Paliparan’s operation and eventually, commercial activities there.
