ILOILO City – Barangays here will now be closely watched online as the local government rolls out a real-time digital monitoring system to track compliance with waste diversion and segregation policies.
“Our main purpose is to develop the idea and the mindset that we should practice waste diversion and segregate [them] from the source,” said General Services Office (GSO) head Engineer Neil Ravena.
The initiative, implemented in partnership with Central Philippine University (CPU), equips barangays with tablets connected to a program installed at the GSO.
Barangays Bakhaw, Buntatala, and East Baluarte are already online, while the system will eventually cover all 180 barangays in the city, starting with an initial batch of 18.
Each barangay is required to submit self-monitoring reports through the system, including records of waste sales.
“It is part of the self-monitoring report that will be submitted to the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources),” Ravena said, adding that barangays could face sanctions if they fail to comply.
For the first few months, ground monitoring personnel will assist barangays in meeting their targets.
Ravena stressed that the diversion goals are aligned with each barangay’s Development Plan and Solid Waste Management Plan.
“We will facilitate what they can do to improve their waste diversion and targets, and help them attain what is in their Solid Waste Management Plan,” he added.
The city’s 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan sets a target of 30 percent waste diversion at the start, gradually increasing to 50 percent within the decade.
Results from the monitoring will serve as the basis for interventions in barangays that fall short of the standards, Ravena said./PN