31/07/2026
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In the I-Witness documentary Binasurang Paraiso (Trashed Paradise), Kara David reveals a paradise transformed into a dumping ground, a place where environmental destruction continues unabated.
How long will we keep turning a blind eye to this reality?
How can it be called a paradise when the reality uncovered during the journey is not only mountains of scattered trash, but also the heartbreaking plight of families and children forced to live, scavenge, and survive in a foul-smelling, hazardous dumpsite just to stave off daily hunger?
While such scenes are all too familiar, the sheer scale of the neglect remains shocking. We cannot deny that the waste crisis stems from our continued reliance on single-use plastics and the lack of a robust waste management and recycling system. We cannot expect nature to heal itself while we continue to poison it.
One of the most pressing environmental issues in the Philippines today is the controversy surrounding an illegal open dumpsite built on Aeta ancestral land in Subic, Zambales. The dumpsite was established within the Aeta Ambala ancestral domain in Barangay Naugsol around 2019 or 2020.
According to the agreement with Aeta leaders, a portion of the land was temporarily opened for waste disposal during the COVID-19 pandemic because of travel restrictions. However, operations continued far beyond the original agreement. The dumpsite reportedly remained in operation for nearly six to seven years. During that time, tons of garbage, including pandemic-related waste, accumulated at the site, contaminating local streams used by residents and harming their health, livelihoods, and natural resources. As conditions worsened, some families were forced to leave the ancestral land they had called home for generations.
The Subic local government unit (LGU) stated that it was unaware a community lived in the area. However, according to Kara David and I-Witness, the dumpsite is located within the Aeta ancestral domain, home to an Indigenous community. Ancestral land is not vacant or abandoned. It is where the Aeta people have lived, sustained their culture, and preserved their identity for generations.
For the Aeta people, this is not merely land; it is life. It is where their homes, traditions, rituals, and ancestors are rooted. They are the first to suffer from the pollution, disease, and flooding caused by the dumpsite. Municipal engineers and LGU legal officers have also stated that they are seeking approximately โฑ78 million from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to rehabilitate the site.
The continued destruction of nature is tantamount to stealing the future from our youth. If we fail to act now and improve our waste management systems, the paradise we call home may be irreversibly damaged.
Binasurang Paraiso reminds us that protecting the natural world, our true paradise, is a shared responsibility that begins with our own actions. Environmental stewardship is not solely the duty of governments or organizations. It starts with every individual making conscious choices to reduce waste, protect natural resources, and demand accountability. Only through collective action can we ensure that future generations inherit a world that remains worthy of being called a paradise.
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