BACOLOD City — The Bacolod City Government has launched a two-day reorientation on Republic Act No. 9003 to strengthen its implementation across all 61 barangays.
The activity, which began on Wednesday, May 6, at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby, gathered barangay officials and personnel for a comprehensive review of the law and its enforcement mechanisms.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Bacolod Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO), in coordination with the office of Councilor Homer Bais, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Environment and Ecology.
Bais said the reorientation aims to reinforce strict compliance with the national law and address gaps in its implementation at the barangay level.
Resource speakers from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Environmental Management Bureau were invited to discuss key provisions of the law, including those yet to be fully enforced in communities.
Following the reorientation, each barangay is expected to designate at least five personnel to be deputized as environmental enforcement officers. These officers will be tasked with apprehending individuals who violate waste management regulations, particularly those involved in improper garbage disposal. Offenders will face corresponding penalties under the law.
BENRO will oversee and monitor the implementation efforts of each barangay, Bais added.
The move comes amid growing concerns over improper waste disposal in several parts of the city. Reports and social media posts have shown garbage being indiscriminately dumped by unidentified individuals, with some streets littered with trash even shortly after scheduled collection.
The City Legal Office (CLO) underscored the need for stricter enforcement and will work closely with barangays in deputizing enforcement teams and ensuring proper legal procedures in apprehending violators.
BENRO head Allyn Luv Dignadice said the primary duty of deputized environmental officers is to catch individuals engaged in illegal dumping. The CLO, she added, will guide officers on proper apprehension and documentation processes.
City officials expressed hope that the initiative will promote discipline in waste disposal and contribute to a cleaner environment for Bacolod residents./PN
