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.
For example, the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) filed complaints at the Ombudsman against several LGUs a few years ago for violating RA 9003. This is unfortunate. But those that cannot comply must face the legal consequences. The law must be implemented.
Under RA 9003, all LGUs should have a 10-year solid waste management plan, which should be submitted to and approved by the NSWMC. This plan lays down practical and sustainable strategies to combat solid waste.
Furthermore, all open and controlled dumpsites should be closed and instead sanitary landfills should been established.
More importantly, 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.
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.
More LGUs must be encouraged, if not compelled, to take up their responsibility of implementing this law 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 is lamentable.
