DENR: 900 LGUs committed to establish materials recovery facilities

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said 900 local government units (LGUs) nationwide have “committed” to establish materials recovery facilities (MRFs) in their respective barangays in compliance with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003), as the agency concluded its “Zero Basura” caravan in Davao City last week.

The DENR added that more than 300 local officials even “moved to transform” their open dumps and controlled disposal facilities into eco-parks, also in compliance with the law.

DENR Secretary Lito Atienza said such commitments by LGUs and local officials show that the country “is now on its way to addressing its burgeoning solid waste problem.”

He said these commitments were the result of the three-month long Zero Basura caravan jointly mounted by his agency, the Department of Health (DOH) and League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP).

“I find the commitments expressed by our local officials after every caravan to be very encouraging. At least they now have a better appreciation of the law and are committed to do something about their garbage problems,” he said.

“For our part, we will continue to mobilize our field personnel to assist the LGUs in their endeavors, and ensure that such commitments are translated into action,” he added.

DENR Assistant Secretary for Local Government Gerardo Calderon, concurrent executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) Secretariat, said the Zero Basura caravan achieved a 126-percent compliance record compared to the 2008 figures in terms of the number of MRFs established.

As of last June, Calderon said around 37 percent of the 930 existing open and controlled dumps in the country have been rehabilitated for closure, while 26 other controlled dumps have been upgraded as sanitary landfills or transformed into eco-parks.

While the problem of solid waste may be described in terms of the tons of garbage and foul smell, Atienza, however, said the unseen problem of methane gas emission from improperly managed garbage may well be as grave, as it contributes immensely to the problem of global warming and climate change.

“Garbage, no doubt, is one of the country’s major problems that need to be addressed immediately, as it impinges not only on public health but also on the country’s goal of sustainable development,” Atienza said.

Earlier, President Arroyo had advised local executives to access the financial facility being offered by the Asian Development Bank amounting to $250 million for environmental programs and trading carbon credits, and to use their local governments’ increased revenue share to invest in MRFs. –Katherine Adraneda, Philippine Star