ILOILO – Three towns in this province are yet to secure approval for their 10-year solid waste management plans. These are Guimbal, San Joaquin and Sara.
But Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO) senior environmental management specialist Mitzi Peñaflorida said a deliberation with the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) in Metro Manila has been scheduled.
“Three towns na lang ang bilin, but may schedule naman sila for deliberation this coming Feb. 9 to 10. Praying nga wala na sang problema kag ma-approve na,” Peñaflorida told Panay News.
She explained that when the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hit, the schedule of deliberations of the NSWMC was limited. She added that officials of concerned local government units (LGUs), together with their municipal environment and natural resources officers (MENRO), have to go to Metro Manila to defend its 10-year plan.
The NSWMC approved the solid waste management plans for Balasan and San Miguel last month.
The solid waste management plans of LGUs are mandatory under the Republic Act (RA) 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
The approved SWM plans include strategies for residual, recyclable, biodegradable, and special wastes, such as the strict implementation of the “no segregation, no collection” policy, recycling of single-use plastics, composting, and the construction of a vault for health care wastes.
RA 9003 prohibits local governments from operating open or controlled dumpsites and mandates them to, among others, establish materials recovery facilities, also known as ecology centers, in every barangay or cluster of barangays to promote waste prevention and reduction at the grassroots level.
A materials recovery facility includes a solid waste transfer station or sorting station, a drop-off center, a composting facility, and a recycling facility./PN
