Brgys reminded to set up solid waste committee

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CCENRO) is urging barangay officials to revitalize its solid waste management committee to help address the city’s problem on garbage.

CCENRO officer-in-charge Reymarr Hijara stressed that the Barangay Solid Waste Management Committee (BSWMC) is required under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

The BSWMC should be composed of the barangay captain as chairman, and a member of the barangay council that heads the environmental committee, along with representatives from various sectors in the barangay.

“Dinhi man gud magsugod. Kung ma-activate nani sila, mosunod nana tanan. Dili ra barangay opisyales maoy mangunay ani, apil sad ang community,” Hijara said via the city’s Sugboanon channel.

Under the law, Hijara said BSWMCs should have its own solid waste management program which should be consistent with the city’s. The committee is also tasked to draft ordinances and resolutions related to solid waste management, as well as implement the segregation of household waste.

Barangays, through the BSWMC, should also establish their own materials recovery facility (MRF) and composting area.

The MRF and composting area will be used by the barangay to sort out the collected waste, recycle biodegradables, and prepare non-biodegradables for final disposal. Such a move is also expected to give the city government some savings.

Hijara said for barangays without enough space to put up an MRF and composting area, they can do clustering together with the other neighboring barangays.

“Kung wala gyu’y espasyo, i-cluster ang mga barangays. Magsabot sila asa nila ibutang ang MRF,” Hijara said.

The activation of the BSWMC will be crucial as the city government is set to strictly implement anew the “No segregation, no collection” policy next year. —/ATO (FREEMAN NEWS)