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.
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 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.
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)
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