‘National, local government teamup needed for waste, water security’

MANILA, Philippines — National government agencies and local government units (LGUs) should collaborate to address the growing problem of waste management and water security, according to Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos.

“Let us look at reality, what is happening on the ground. Not all LGUs are equal. Not all are rich,” he said over the weekend.

Abalos urged LGUs to seek help from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Department of the Interior and Local Government. The DENR would establish the cleanliness standard in each locality while the DILG would monitor and grant monetary incentives to compliant LGUs, he added.

Based on reports, Abalos said 61,000 metric tons (MT)  of garbage are produced daily, with 20 percent coming from the National Capital Region.

This contributes to the 20 to 22 million MT of solid waste produced annually, he added.

As for sanitary landfills, Abalos noted that only 1,107 out of 1,634 LGUs nationwide have access to the facilities.

“More or less, 500 LGUs do not have access to sanitary landfills. My question is, where do they dump their garbage? My guess is as good as yours,” he said.

Environment Undersecretary Carlos David earlier said at least P250 billion is needed to provide potable water and sanitation to around 40 million Filipinos who have no access to clean and safe drinking water.

Only 74 million Filipinos have access to piped and potable water and 3.8 million still practice open defecation, he noted.