By Alex Galang | July 24, 2026

SUBIC, Zambales — The National Institute for Transparency and Accountability (NITA) has called for the formal closure of the controversial trash dumpsite at Sitio Tibag in Barangay Naugsol here, even as it declared that the local government unit, the supposed private owner of the land, and the Ayta Ambala Council should not be blamed for the establishment of the dump.

NITA, a civil society organization and advocacy group in the Philippines dedicated to public integrity, good governance, and anti-corruption oversight, said in an assessment report following its investigation that the dump was opened as a temporary site during the Covid-19 pandemic when mobility was limited.

Controversy over the dumpsite broke out recently following a documentary which raised issues about the location of the dump inside the Ayta ancestral domain, the alleged displacement of families near the site, and the alleged lack of consent by affected residents.

“It appeared that the local government was then in a difficulty of finding a facility to receive the solid wastes collected from residential and commercial establishments in Subic, so the dumpsite was opened,” said NITA Executive Director Carlos Ayala.

“The Subic LGU had to act right then, because a bigger problem sanitation and public health would have ensued otherwise,” he added.

Ayala said NITA findings indicated that the LGU did not forcibly take the site, but had asked the consent of concerned individuals and groups before the dump was established.

He said that Jose Tenoria, the private owner of the site, agreed for its temporary use.

The NITA probe also confirmed from Ayta Ambala Tribal Chieftain Francisco Santos that the tribal council allowed the dumpsite in support of the LGU for its assistance and services to the community.

Still, NITA stated that any decision regarding the Ayta ancestral domain should have been consulted with government agencies concerned.

The National Commission for Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) said earlier that it was not informed prior to the opening of the dumpsite, although it said it might have been overlooked because of the Covid-19 emergency.

The NITA investigation also confirmed that the Subic LGU stopped using the Tibag dumpsite in 2022, after gaining access to a waste disposal facility in Pampanga.

Findings by NITA inspectors that the dump did not emit strong foul odor and that the remaining garbage were already scattered indicated that it was no longer in active use for some time.

The NITA report also said that there was no complaint from residents about widespread health problems connected to the trash dump, even among those who live three kilometers from the site.

With these observations, NITA recommended the conduct of an inventory of the remaining trash, soil analysis and water testing, formal closure and rehabilitation of the site, and monitoring after the rehabilitation stage.

It added that the proposal to cover the remaining garbage with soil should only be carried out under a technically approved plan, and after authorities have assessed the proper corrective action.

NITA also clarified that its findings were only based on visual inspection, interviews, and consultation with the community and should not be taken in lieu of any environmental investigation, regulatory proceeding, or court decision. – with Taktikom Research