Budget blocks LGU implementation of solid waste law

CEBU, Philippines - Budgetary constraint continues to be the reason some local government units have yet to comply with the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

This is according to the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 Regional Solid Waste Program Coordinator Amancio Dongcoy.

“The construction of a sanitary landfill costs about P10M per hectare which is why most LGUs cannot afford to put up one. In my conversation with some mayors, they said they would rather prioritize basic health services with the huge amount,” Dongcoy said.

Dongcoy recommended to local government units to construct a residual storage facility to address their garbage problem.

Since the law was passed 11 years ago, Dongcoy said that most LGUs still have to put up their own sanitary landfill while the piled-up garbage are only deposited in open dumpsites which harms the environment and eventually affects public health.

“There are only six operational landfills operating in the whole Central Visayas while other LGUs dump their wastes in open dumpsites,” Dongcoy said.

The use of open dumpsites has been prohibited effective 2006.

There are only four operational landfills in Cebu but these are reportedly substandard. There are two in Negros Oriental, according to Dongcoy. These are in Cebu City, Talisay City and the Municipalities of Dalaguete and Asturias while in Negros Oriental, these are located in the cities of Bayawan and Bais.

Dongocy said there are also two privately-operated sanitary landfills in Cebu in the towns of Consolacion and Compostela.

In a recent speaking engagement before members of the Cebu Association of City and Municipal Public Information Officers (CAOCAMPIO), Dongocy told the public information officers to recommend to their respective mayors that it is more practical to go into composting and diversion before placing the wastes into a residual storage facility.

Dongcoy said biodegradable wastes should be composted and reduced to its minimum level before placing them inside sacks, while non-biodegradable wastes or those that cannot be composted and recycled must likewise be placed inside sacks then put inside the residual storage facility.

“Though the law mandates the establishment of a sanitary landfill but if LGUs do not have the sufficient funds and just to make sure that they are doing something to comply with the law in managing their solid waste problem, then better put up a storage facility instead. This is better than not doing anything at all,” Dongocy said. – (FREEMAN)