Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, November 21 (PIA) – 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. (rmn/hfg/AGIO-PIA7 Forum)