ILOILO — Alarmed by the province’s garbage problem, Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. has ordered mayors and barangay officials across Iloilo’s 43 local government units to strictly enforce solid waste management strategies.
The province generates an average of 140.29 tons of garbage daily, according to the Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO).
Defensor issued the directive during the “Limpyo Iloilo Stakeholders Summit” on February 12, where he underscored the need for a comprehensive and traceable waste collection system to curb illegal dumping along roads, vacant lots, and waterways.
“Dapat may ara kita nga sistema sa pag-collect. Bululigan ta ini tanan sa aton nga masarangan para makita gid naton kun diin ini nagahalin ang mga basura,” Defensor said.
Defensor emphasized that barangay leaders must establish an organized collection and tracking mechanism to identify the primary sources of waste, warning that unauthorized dumping has become a recurring environmental concern across the province.
A recent trash audit by PGENRO showed that the bulk of collected waste consists of special wastes such as facemasks and diapers, glass and PET bottles, plastic wrappers, food packaging, aluminum cans, and single-use items including utensils, stirrers, cups, and cigarette butts.
Authorities noted that most of the garbage originates from households, neighboring barangays, and commuters who illegally discard trash from public transport vehicles.
Recognizing the varied challenges faced by local government units, Defensor assured continued provincial support, including upgrading municipal solid waste management facilities and extending financial assistance for barangays to install CCTV cameras in areas prone to illegal dumping.
The summit, organized by PGENRO, gathered mayors, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Officers (MENROs), and environmental advocates to discuss coordinated measures against unauthorized waste disposal province-wide.
The activity concluded with the oath-taking ceremony of the new set of officers of the League of Iloilo Environment and Natural Resources Officers (LIENRO), administered by the governor./PN
