THE RECENT recognition of Passi City and the towns of Ajuy, Dingle, and Tubungan in Iloilo Province as Western Visayas’ emerging models in sustainable solid waste management is worth applauding. These four localities, along with the Iloilo provincial government, have demonstrated that consistent compliance with Republic Act 9003 and the rollout of innovative programs can create cleaner, greener communities. Their achievements show what is possible when leadership, community participation, and technical know-how align.
But behind the applause is an uncomfortable truth: only four local government units (LGUs) made the cut. Iloilo Province has 42 municipalities and one component city. Western Visayas has 133 LGUs. Yet only a handful were recognized. The imbalance is telling.
If these four local governments can meet the basic and enhanced requirements of RA 9003, why can’t the others?
The reasons are neither new nor surprising. Many municipalities continue to struggle with the fundamentals: incomplete segregation at source, inadequate material recovery facilities (MRFs), poorly planned collection routes, lack of sanitary landfills, and inconsistent enforcement of ordinances. In most places, barangay-level solid waste management boards exist only on paper. Segregation remains a suggestion, not a mandate. And illegal dumping continues quietly in riverbanks, backroads, and idle lots.
Then there is the perennial resource problem. Smaller LGUs operate with tight budgets and limited technical manpower. Many do not have full-time environmental officers or waste specialists who understand the complexity of RA 9003 compliance. Others lack heavy equipment, collection vehicles, or the funds to maintain MRFs that were built years ago but later fell into disrepair.
But resources alone do not explain everything. The four recognized LGUs did not suddenly receive massive funding; they simply made better use of what they had. They planned. They enforced. They educated their communities. They innovated with programs such as Tapon to Ipon, Balik-Alat, Limpyo Dalanon, and other localized initiatives. They proved that political will — not just financial capacity — is what drives environmental governance.
What, then, should be done?
The provincial government must scale up its technical support, especially for low-capacity LGUs. Compliance with RA 9003 should not be a competition among municipalities; it should be a province-wide standard. Also, there must be stronger monitoring and stricter accountability. For too long, non-compliance has been tolerated. The law is very clear: segregation at source is mandatory, barangay MRFs are required, and open dumping is illegal. LGUs that ignore these should no longer get a free pass.
Of course, community participation must be elevated from token involvement to meaningful engagement. No amount of infrastructure or equipment will compensate for public apathy. Households, schools, businesses, and barangays need sustained education and consistent enforcement to ensure that waste reduction becomes a habit, not a temporary campaign.
And yes, the province must confront the reality that its waste problem is bigger than awards and citations. Waste volumes continue to rise, landfills are filling up, and rural towns are quietly accumulating trash they can no longer manage. The four award-winning LGUs have shown the way forward. It is now the rest of the province’s turn to catch up.
Recognizing excellence is important. But addressing the gaps — the reasons why dozens of other municipalities failed to meet the standard — is far more urgent.
