Waste management commission checks Mandaue's garbage woes

CEBU, Philippines – The National Solid Waste Management Commission visited the Mandaue City dumpsite and confirmed the earlier observation of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and environmentalists that it is one of the top violators of the Solid Waste Management law.

DENR Assistant Secretary for Local Government Concerns and Lands and NSWMC executive director Gerardo Calderon, who was in town for the “Four-mula 1- Zero Basura Caravan” held at the Cebu City Waterfront Hotel, said he has seen the problem in Mandaue’s dumpsite that is located in Barangay Umapad.

The location of the dumpsite and the mixing of wastes was the cause of the current problem of Mandaue, he said.

The caravan, which was spearheaded by the DENR, NSWMC, Mayors Development Center Inc., office of the Presidential Management Staff and the League of the Municipalities of the Philippines, gathered 60 municipal mayors in Central Visayas to discuss issues on the solid waste management.

Information dissemination, education and communication campaign is the main goal of the caravan that will be going to different provinces, cities and municipalities in the whole country.

“This is to cascade DENR’s key programs while strengthening DENR-LGU partnerships especially on solid waste management in compliance with RA 9003,” Calderon said.

Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act requires the reduction of wastes by recycling and their segregation and treatment, especially residual wastes before they are disposed in dumpsites. The law also prohibits operation of open dumpsites as they pose hazard to the people’s health and environment.

However, at present, there are still 113 open dumpsites, only 35 controlled disposal sites, five categorized sanitary landfills, and two open dumpsites with alternative technology in Region 7.

Calderon reminded the officials that rules should be followed in implementing dumpsites like not piling the garbage too high and recommend covering it with soil, fencing the surrounding of the site and most importantly composting. “What I suggest is to emphasize on composting,” he added.

Also, the environment official said that the LGUs, especially with ports, should check the boats coming in of their place particularly the big ones coming from different countries to ensure that they do not have parts with loads of garbage that could be disposed in the seas where they dock.

Calderon said LGUs should have an ordinance on this matter and recommend to local officials to also coordinate with the Coastguard, Philippine Port Authority or other agencies that could help them in addressing the problem. — AJ de la Torre/WAB (THE FREEMAN)