Local Execs Asked to Comply with Solid Waste Management Act to Address Garbage Problem

October 29, 2009

Because of the huge waste and garbage mess caused by typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng in Metro Manila and in nearby provinces, Secretary Ronnie V. Puno today called on all local chief executives to strictly implement and comply with the provisions of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, especially on the establishment of solid waste and materials recovery facilities.

Puno said the mounds of garbage brought about by the recent calamities should serve as a wake-up call for local government units to immediately act on the solid waste management problems in their respective areas.

“There is a need for utmost attention and cooperation among the national government agencies and LGUs in formulating strategies to improve existing dump sites to reduce their adverse effects on human health, life and the environment,” he said.

In a directive to provincial governors, city and municipal mayors and sanggunian presiding officers and members, the DILG Secretary said that Section 17 of RA 9003 mandates LGUs to close existing open dumpsites, and develop and operate sanitary landfill sites as final disposal sites for solid and residual wastes of a municipality or city or a cluster of municipalities or cities.

He said provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays, through appropriate ordinances, may also consolidate or coordinate their efforts, services and resources to address common solid waste management problems or establish common waste disposal facilities.

Moreover, under Section 32 of the same law, Puno said there should be an LGU Materials Recovery Facility in every barangay or cluster of barangays in a barangay-owned or leased land or in any suitable open space.

The MRF, he said, should include a solid waste transfer station or sorting station, drop-off center, a composting facility and a recycling facility.

Earlier, Puno called on city and municipal mayors and punong barangays to conduct an inventory of all existing solid waste management disposal facilities in their respective jurisdiction and submit the same to the National Solid Waste Management Commission which oversees the implementation of the solid waste management program.

The inventory should contain the following information: location of materials recovery facility; barangay/s or area/s served; total area of the MRF; what processes are being done in the MRF; and best practices in the LGU to include profile, pictures, contact person and address.