THE Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Iloilo reported recently that an additional 10 local government units had their 10-year solid waste management plans approved by the National Solid Waste Management Commission. These were the municipalities of Tigbauan in the 1st District; Leon, Alimodian and San Miguel in the 2nd District; Cabatuan in the 3rd District; San Enrique and Barotac Nuevo in the 4th District; and Balasan, Estancia and Barotac Viejo in the 5th District.
These plans, which lay down practical and sustainable strategies to combat solid waste, are actually long overdue. Local government units (LGUs) have the obligation to implement Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Law, or face the legal consequences of non-compliance.
Four years ago for example, the National Solid Waste Management Commission filed complaints at the Ombudsman against 50 LGUs for violating RA 9003. This is unfortunate. But those who cannot comply must face the legal consequences. The law must be implemented.
Under RA 9003, all LGUs should have a solid waste management plan, which should be submitted to and approved by the NSWMC. Furthermore, all open and controlled dumpsites should be closed and instead sanitary landfills should been established.
Several LGUs have effectively and efficiently complied with the ESWM Law. The fact that there are compliant LGUs only means it is doable. There is no reason why other LGUs could not follow suit. For example, all barangays should have a materials recovery facility where waste materials are sorted for composting and recycling and the residual waste will be brought to sanitary landfills. The law dictates that there should be mandatory segregation of waste at source and a “no segregation, no collection” policy.
More LGUs must be encouraged, if not compelled, to take up their responsibility of implementing the ESWM Llaw and all other environmental laws to ensure safe, clean, disaster-resilient and sustainable communities. Because few LGUs have been implementing the law, the benefits of the ESWM Law are yet to be felt. This must change. Now.
