Welcome to MINDANAO PAGADIAN FRONTLINE Your Paperless and Independent News and Information Service based in Pagadian City EMAIL us: jongcadz@gmail.com or call/text at mobile number 09481487880 or 09159166261 for your news and articles submissions.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

DENR backs Ombudsman project to monitor LGUs on solid waste compliance

PAGADIAN CITY, ZAMBOSUR - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is throwing its full support to an initiative of the Office of the Ombudsman to monitor the compliance of local government units (LGUs) with the ecological solid waste management law.


“The DENR commits to lend its technical expertise to the Office of the Ombudsman in monitoring LGUs’ compliance with the law, and cooperate with other government agencies and environmental groups to ensure the success of the program,” DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje said, as he congratulated Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales on the successful launch of the “Solid Waste Management Compliance Program” on Earth Day, April 22.

During the launch, Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon and Environmental Ombudsman Gerard Mosquera said the three-year program deviates from the usual approach of investigation and prosecution as its primary purpose is to measure compliance and recognize the best performing LGUs in terms of conformity with the law on solid waste management.

Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, provides the legal framework for the country’s systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that ensure protection of public health and the environment. It seeks the creation of mechanisms and incentives to pursue an effective solid waste management at the local government levels.

The law calls for mandatory segregation of solid wastes; establishment of LGU materials recovery facility; prohibition against the use of open dumpsites, littering in public places, open burning of solid waste, squatting in open dumps and landfills; among others.

Aside from the DENR, the Ombudsman program is also in cooperation with the Department of the Interior and Local Government and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, and in partnership with environmental groups Zero Waste Philippines Inc., Mother Earth Foundation, Eco-waste Coalition and BangonKalikasan Movement.

Statistics from the National Economic Development Authority showed that only nine out of 17 LGUs in Metro Manila have submitted a solid waste management plan, while only 414 out of 1,610 LGUs nationwide have complied with the national plan as of 2012, which translates to a 52.9-percent compliance rate for the metropolis and a mere 25.7-percent compliance rate at the national level. (RP RPAO)

No comments:

Post a Comment

Inside Stories

Most Read Article

YOUR PAPERLESS and Independent NEWS and Information SERVICE
This NEWS BLOG is set up by MINDANAO PAGADIAN Frontline online editor JONG D. CADION for news archiving purposes and future references. Re-publication of news and photos from this BLOG need permission from the administrators. External links to other websites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views or privacy policies contained therein.