Corruption seen in dirty cities

MANILA, Philippines - Local government units (LGUs) where streets are dirty are most likely being run by corrupt leaders, thus the Office of the Ombudsman is pushing for the strict implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act.

Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon Gerard Mosquera said the ombudsman is teaming up with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and civil society groups to ensure compliance with the law.

“If a place is clean, that means people there are following the law. Less garbage means better management and less corruption,” Mosquera said during the ombudsman’s radio program over dzRB yesterday.

Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales appointed Mosquera as Environmental Ombudsman.

“The Office of the Ombudsman is interested in addressing our problem with garbage,” Mosquera said.

Mosquera told The STAR a cooperative development agreement would be signed next week with the DENR and non-government organizations.

“We’re putting the weight of the Office of the Ombudsman behind DENR and securing the support also of civil society organizations, ” he said.

The National Economic and Development Authority earlier reported that only nine of the 16 cities and one municipality of Metro Manila have submitted a solid waste management plan.

Only 414 of the country’s 1,610 LGUs complied with the national plan since 2012. This means a 52.94 percent compliance for Metro Manila and a mere 25.71 percent compliance at the national level.

Metro Manila generates more than 8,000 tons of garbage everyday and only about 70 percent of these are collected.