BACOLOD City – A total of 50 mayors nationwide are now facing charges before the Office of the Environmental Ombudsman for violation of Republic Act (RA) 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
The Environmental Ombudsman is also evaluating 100 local government units (LGUs) for the same offense, said Commissioner Crispin Lao of the National Solid Waste Management Commission, which is under the Office of the President.
Lao, who was in the city to attend an international training-workshop on solid waste management yesterday, said the filing of charges shows “how serious” they are in implementing RA 9003.
“It’s not only the mayors. We have also filed charges against other local chief executives, including the environment officers,” Lao stressed.
A good number of LGUs across the country are still operating open dumpsites, which is against RA 9003, according to Lao.
The LGUs must have closed the dumpsites in 2006, he added.
“Open dump sites shall not be allowed as final disposal sites. If an open dump site is existing within the city or municipality, the plan shall make provisions for its closure or eventual phase out…As an alternative, sanitary landfill sites shall be developed and operated as a final disposal site for solid and, eventually, residual wastes of a municipality or city or a cluster of municipality and/or cities,” RA 9003 states.
Lao was, however, not certain if Bacolod was included in the LGUs under their evaluation.
“I don’t know if Bacolod is included. I have to check the records,” he told media members yesterday.
If proven guilty, charged local chief executives will, among others, be perpetually barred from running for public office./PN
