ILOILO – Seven towns in the province of Iloilo do not yet have a 10-year solid waste management plan, according to the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO).
These seven towns are San Joaquin, Guimbal, San Miguel, Balasan, Sara, Carles, and Estancia.
“Right now there are already 36 ka mga muncipalities sa province ang nakapa-approve sang ila nga 10-year solid waste management plan. So, may seven na lang kita nga nabilin and right now,” said PENRO Senior Environmental Management Specialist Mitzi Peñaflorida.
The seven towns held back the approval of the 10-year solid waste management plan since last year due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Peñaflorida hopes the seven Local Government Units (LGUs) will approve the plan with the year.
Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, made it mandatory for LGUs to have a solid waste management plan.
“The approved SWM plans include strategies on residual, recyclable, biodegradable and special wastes such as the strict implementation of the “no segregation, no collection” policy, recycling of single-use plastics, and composting and construction of 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 in the grassroots level.
A material recovery facility includes a solid waste transfer station or sorting station, a drop-off center, a composting facility, and a recycling facility./PN
