Lapu-Lapu arrests waste law violators

CEBU, Philippines - As of December 14, 688 violators of the Solid Waste Management Law were issued citation tickets by the Solid Waste Management Office in Lapu-Lapu City.

 Among the violators are two barangay captains who have been ordered to appear in the City Prosecutor's Office on December 17.

 Records available to The FREEMAN disclosed that since 2005 up to this year, the City Solid Waste Management Office listed a total of 3, 836 violators.

 The two barangay captains had failed to segregate their garbage and had failed to stop the dumping of garbage in their respective places.

 A total of 248 violators were endorsed to the City Prosecutors Office for the filing of cases.

 Under the Solid Waste Law, the barangays are in charge of the collection and disposal of garbage, the city is in charge of the Material Recovery Facility.

 But the problem is barangays either do not collect efficiency or they fail to educate residents in their barangays on segregation. This is the reason why the MRF facility provided by the city government would not accept the garbage they collect.

 The city has a Material Recovery Facility in barangay Mactan which observes the "no segregation no dumping" policy.

 In compliance with the mandate of Republic Act 9003, the (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000), the city government of Lapu-Lapu under the previous administration of former and now Congressman Arturo O. Radaza created the Solid Waste Management Board.

 In 2005, the board launched the full implementation of the law and also Ordinance 484-97, which is the Comprehensive Environmental and Sanitation Code of Lapu-Lapu City.

Violators of Ordinance No. 484-97, and Republic Act 9003 who opt to render community service instead of paying voluntary fines are assigned to clean problematic areas in the city for one or two Saturdays under the Supervision of the Solid Waste Management Office. - THE FREEMAN