VERY FEW local government units have effectively and efficiently complied with the Solid Waste Management Act. But the fact that there are compliant local governments only means that it is doable. There is no reason, therefore, why other LGUs could not follow suit.
Officials of five local government units in Iloilo province risk being charged for their municipalities’ operation of open dumps in violation of the Solid Waste Management Act. These are the towns of Balasan, Barotac Nuevo, Barotac Viejo, Dumangas, and San Miguel. Yes, there must be a stricter implementation of this law, also known as Republic Act (RA) 9003.
Seventeen years after it was approved, compliance rate is still very low. This is very lamentable. But hopefully, more local governments will properly implement the law, what with concerned government agencies looking into this matter so that legal actions could be undertaken.
Under RA 9003, all open and controlled dumpsites should now be closed and instead, sanitary landfills should have been established. Furthermore, all local governments should have a solid waste management plan, which should be submitted to and approved by the National Solid Waste Management Commission.
More importantly, the law dictates that there should be mandatory segregation of waste at source and a “no segregation, no collection” policy. 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.
We hope our local leaders have the political will to implement the law at full speed.
