Group urges government to step up anti-littering drive

MANILA, Philippines – Greens have urged the government to stop littering and the dumping of garbage to prevent floods in Metro Manila.

Roy Alvarez, EcoWaste Coalition president, said the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration has announced “above normal rainfall condition” with the onset of La Niña this month.

“We all know that littering clogs up Metro Manila’s drainage system, blocking inlets, canals and waterways causing flooding or ponding, especially in low-lying areas,” he said.

“With the participation of community groups and residents, we urge the national and local authorities to launch an all-out drive against litterbugs and pursue declogging operations before the next storm comes.

“Only by working together can we prevent flashfloods that are partly due to garbage-blocked drains.”

Eileen Sison, NGO representative to the National Solid Waste Management Commission, said President Aquino’s fight against corruption and for a clean government should also include purging the system of wasteful practices such as littering and dumping of garbage.

“It was right for P-Noy to say that environmental carelessness, best exemplified by the pollution of Pasig River, is a form of corruption, too, that has to go,” she said.

EcoWaste said littering is a national issue that poses health risks, damages water quality, destroys wildlife habitat, creates a dirty and depressing environment, and uses a lot of public funds for cleanup.

“Forms of littering vary, from tossing candy wrappers, cigarette butts and spent chewing gums on the streets, disposing of garbage into the Pasig River and its tributaries, leaving discards along the beach to the discharge of spent motor oil and other hazardous liquids into storm drains and ultimately into Manila Bay,” EcoWaste said.

Littering is, in fact, an environmental offense under Section 48 of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which prohibits the dumping of waste matter in public places such as roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros, parks and establishments.

Violators upon conviction can be fined P300 to P1,000 or render one to 15 days of community service, or both, according to the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9003.