PAMPANGA - The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 3 will host the Office of the Ombudsman's Public Clarificatory Hearing for Violation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or RA 9003 of several CL LGUs set on August 23-25, 2016 at the DILG Regional Office 3.

The LGUs who were invited for the clarificatory hearing were: Abucay in Bataan, Hagonoy and Paombong in Bulacan, Bongabon, Jaen and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija, and San Simon in Pampanga.

In compliance with RA 9003, the LGUs found operating open dumpsites which were already ordered to be closed were invited for a clarificatory hearing which aims to gather facts about the case and to prove the LGU's compliance or intent to comply with the law.

Prior to this, a pre-hearing briefing was conducted on August 22, 2016 together with the respondent LGUs and representatives from the Office of the Ombudsman and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to discuss the rules regarding the proceeding.

In the hearing proper, the respondent LGUs will be given the chance to present their Safe Closure and Rehabilitation Plans as well as their actions in relation to the operation of dumpsites. These will then be the basis of the fact-finding panel whether or not to pursue a case against them.

Among possible administrative charges to be filed against the officials who are found liable are gross neglect, grave misconduct and conduct prejudicial to public interest.

A press conference will be held at the DILG Regional Office 3 today, Wednesday, August 24 at 1:00 PM to answer questions from the media regarding the on-going hearings.