LGUs Urged to Comply with Ecological Solid Waste Programs

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) urged the local government units (LGUs) to comply with the Solid Waste Management programs in their respective areas.

During the Association of Government Information Officers (AGIO) – Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 7, DENR-EMB 7 Supervising Environmental Management Specialist Engr. Marco Adrew Silveron said Republic Act (RA) 9003 also known as the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000” took effect in 2001 and the LGUs are mandated to implement the law.

“DENR-EMB will provide technical assistance to all LGUs in order for them to follow the implementation of RA 9003 and to protect the people and environment,” said Silveron.

“We are closely monitoring with the LGUs especially with the issues on dumpsite operations which is prohibited based on the law and they are encouraged to look for alternatives in order to properly manage the solid waste,” he added.

RA 9003 will provide an ecological solid waste management program, creating the necessary institutional mechanisms, declaring certain prohibited acts.

All LGUs are mandated to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program which shall ensure protection of public health and environment; utilize environmentally sound methods; set targets and guidelines for solid waste avoidance and reduction; ensure proper segregation, collection, transport and storage of solid waste.

Silveron revelead that only 30% of the LGUs in the region complied with the Solid Waste Management programs namely: creation of disposal sites; segregation at source which is the process of separating solid waste produced namely recyclable, residual, biodegradable and special waste; project plans and the construction of Materials Recovery Facility which is an area where collected waste materials are stored until they are sold to recyclers or processed for composting.

Many of the LGUs are not able to comply due to lack of budget or lack of priority due to assigned personnel handling other various responsibilities.

With this, DENR-EMB strengthened their campaign to help the LGUs.

“Discipline should start from us especially to the young children. Let us be part of the solution but not to be part of the problem,” said Silveron.