KALIBO, Aklan – Two towns in the province of Aklan voluntarily closed their open dumpsites in compliance to Section 47 of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary Roy Cimatu ordered on Jan. 26 the immediate closure of at least 200 open dumpsites in the country by end of March.
The open dumpsites voluntarily closed in Aklan were located in Barangay Bonza, Libacao and Barangay San Isidro, Banga.
Libacao mayor Charit Navarosa said they will utilize the fully-operational Materials Recovery Facility in Barangay Janlud, the adjacent village of Barangay Poblacion, after the closure of the open dumpsite.
“Kalimitan ang basura ay galing sa (Barangay) Poblacion at halos mga 80 porsyento ay sanga at dahon ng mga puno,” he added.
Navarosa stressed a study is ongoing for a sanitary landfill in the boundaries of Barangay Arcangel, Balete and Barangay Ogsip, Libacao which will benefit the towns of Kalibo, Banga, Libacao, Balete and Altavas.
Western Visayas has 12 established sanitary landfills in the provinces of Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental while six are being constructed this year, including one in Passi City, Iloilo.
Of the 17 towns in Aklan, only the town of Malay has an engineered sanitary landfill in mainland Malay. The accumulated solid wastes in Boracay Island are disposed of in the Barangay Kabulihan landfill to comply with the zero-waste mandate of the national government in the island.
DENR Region 6 director for environmental management Bureau Atty. Ramir Neil Pascua said local government units (LGUs) without sanitary landfills could put up temporary residuals containment areas to accommodate the wastes while they look for suitable locations for sanitary landfills.
Pascua also encouraged LGUs to pool their resources for cluster sanitary landfills that will replace the open dumps.
A cluster sanitary landfill, he said, is easier and less expensive for LGUs to maintain and operate in a manner protective of the environment and public health.
The sanitary landfill is a key component of LGUs’ solid waste management program to address garbage woes, aside from reduction, recycling and reuse of wastes.
“LGUs in Aklan are reminded to voluntarily close their open dumps. We continue to secure their commitment until end of February for the total shutdown of all open dumpsites,” he stressed.
Pascua said they will issue cease and desist orders against erring LGUs if they fail to voluntarily close their open dumpsites by next month.
Local officials found guilty for establishing and operating open dumps for solid wastes in violation of RA 9003 and other applicable rules and regulations can be charged criminally and administratively.
Pascua urged the residents to help in the daily proper collection and segregation to reduce the volume of garbage produce.
“Kailangan tumulong din ang mga barangay sa pagkolekta at tamang segregation ng mga basura,” he added./PN
