NSWMC Commissioner Crispian Lao

 Mayors in provinces urged to comply with solid waste law

by Rachelle M. Nessia

DUMAGUETE CITY, July 5 (PIA) --- The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) has reiterated its call for mayors in the provinces to step up their compliance of the solid waste management law.  

NSWMC Commissioner Crispian Lao, in his recent visit to Dumaguete City upon the invitation of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) here, urged mayors to fully comply with RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act which provides for sanitary landfills to take the place of open dumpsites. 

He lamented that the implementation of the ten year-old RA 9003 until now  remains to be seen on a nationwide setup. He noted the poor compliance rate of local government units (LGUs), especially in the provinces, which is pegged at roughly between 13 to 15 percent only.  

“This is very low and we want to see the LGUs really address the issue of solid waste,” Lao told the Philippine Information Agency in an interview. 

Metro Manila registered a higher compliance rate at about 80 percent. 

Recent reports from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here indicate that only two LGUs in Negros Oriental have put up a sanitary landfill in their area. Of the remaining 19 cities and towns, four have controlled dumpsites while the rest still operate open dumpsites. 

“Do people segregate their waste? Are the biodegradable, residual, recyclable and medical wastes collected separately?,” Lao asked as he stressed that the law's compliance must start within the household. 

He warned erring LGUs that under said law, anybody can sue the local government for non-compliance. “Cases have been filed against some LGUs and this prompted the local chief executives concerned to do something about it,” said Lao. 

He, however, said the commission prefers to help the non-complying LGUs rather than sue them. “We would rather assist them so they can comply with the law. We understand that a lot of the mayors are newly-elected and they have to start from scratch.” 

LGUs can seek NSWMC's assistance in coming up with a solid waste management plan and how to go about implementing the requirements provided by the law, Lao added. (RMN/PIA Negros Oriental)