Congress supports warning on LGUs

LEGISLATORS support the warning issued by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources against the officials of some 183 local government units (LGUs) who have failed to comply with the implementation of Republic Act (RA) 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

The lawmakers—led by Representatives Irvin Alcala of Quezon and Rogelio Espina of Biliran said that local officials face administrative sanctions in accordance with the Local Government Code and other existing laws, should they fail to heed the Environment department’s final warning.

According to Alcala— Vice Chairman of the House Ecology Committee—many local goverments have yet to implement RA 9003 which was enacted on January 26, 2002.

Under the law, Alcala said that local goverments should set guidelines and targets for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through source reduction and waste minimization measures, including composting, recycling, re-use, recovery, green charcoal process and others. The measures should be done before collection, treatment and disposal in appropriate and environmentally sound solid waste management facilities in accordance with ecologically sustainable development principles.

“The law mandates the LGUs to ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste management excluding incineration,” Alcala explained.

He said that RA 9003 states that local government officials and officials of concerned government agencies who fail to comply with the law can be charged administratively under the Local Government Code.

“Ten years have passed since its ratification, but the law’s strict implementation is yet to be felt in some areas nationwide as numerous local government units continue to evade, if not completely ignore, the guidelines the law requires and the corresponding penalties for its violation,” Alcala said.

“Its weak implementation contributed highly to the horrifying consequences the country has suffered, as witnessed in recent catastrophes which resulted in numerous deaths and billions in damages to infrastructures and properties,” he added.

Espina, for his part, said that the effect of climate change is amplified because of the people’s wanton disregard for the environment.

“Previous typhoons, intensified by the effects of climate change, have caused floods worsened by careless littering nationwide, as well as those accumulated over centuries of irresponsible dumping in seas, rivers and ‘esteros,’ spewed back during flash floods, blocking drainages and sewer systems,” he said.

Recycling potential
An Asian Development Bank report suggested that there is much to be gained through recycling since it is estimated that Metro Manila households generate more than two million tons of potentially recyclable household materials annually.

An Manila-based independent waste analysis and characterization study conducted by Unilever Philippines dubbed “Project Eliminate”—which sought to assess and minimize the company’s environmental impact —illustrated that the average truckload collection comes mainly from residential (66 percent), commercial (21 percent) and market (13 percent) sources.

“If this Manila study is accurate, we could easily minimize wastes reaching our dumpsites through proper segregation, starting from our households. Moreover, if this is true nationwide, we can also encourage families to help in organic or bio-fertilizer production which could provide another source of income, ensure a healthier produce and increase the fertilizer’s availability, thereby reducing its market price,” Alcala said. –Ruben D. Manahan 4th, Manila Times

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