MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has pledged to provide technical assistance to 36 local government units (LGUs) with recently approved solid waste management (SWM) plans.
“We are committed to helping these LGUs prepare and implement their respective SWM plans,” DENR Undersecretary for solid waste and local government Benny Antiporda said.
He added, “The SWM plans of LGUs are very important since these shall ensure the efficient management of solid waste generated in their cities and municipalities.”
Twenty LGUs have been given the green light to implement their respective 10-year SWM plans pursuant to Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Antiporda said the approved SWM plans of 20 LGUs covering 2017 to 2028, mostly from Luzon, “signify their commitment and cooperation to a cleaner environment and better health for their constituents.”
The National Solid Waste Management Commission personally handed over the resolutions approving the SWM plans to Mayors Milliard Villanueva, Larry Villanueva and Nathali Ann Debuque of the municipalities of Concepcion, San Dionisio and Anilao in Iloilo province, respectively; Fulgencio Mercado and Michael Angelo Rivera of Taal and Padre Garcia in Batangas; Cynthia Estanislao of Morong, Bataan; and Betty Lacbayan of Anao, Tarlac. Antiporda is concurrent chairperson of the NSWMC.
The commission also approved the SWM plans of the towns of Balete, Mabini and San Pascual in Batangas province; Orani, Bataan; Baliuag, Calumpit and Hagonoy in Bulacan; Science City of Muñoz, Quezon and San Leonardo in Nueva Ecija; Floridablanca and Lubao in Pampanga; and Camiling, Tarlac.
The resolutions require the LGUs to submit to the NSWMC their final plans with a Sangguniang Bayan Resolution and an annual progress report on the strategies implemented and accomplishments.
Last September, the NSWMC also approved the SWM plans of Quezon City and 15 municipalities in Luzon.
The approved SWM plans include strategies on residual, recyclable, biodegradable and special wastes such as the strict implementation of the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy, recycling of single-use plastics, and composting and construction of vault for healthcare waste. Municipal ordinances in support of these strategies were also identified.