Capitol gives 49 MRCF to LGUs

CEBU, Philippines — A month before the year ends, a total of 49 Material Recovery and Composting Facility (MRCF) were turned over by the Cebu Provincial Government to the local government units (LGUs).

The latest recipient is the town of Alcoy. The turned over facility is worth P550,000.

It is located in Sitio Lalim, Barangay Atabay. It can be used by the town as recovery, temporary storage, composting and final sorting facility as well as a transfer station.

The Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Offices (PENRO) has been reaching out to LGUs in order for them to comply with the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

PENRO administrative officer Thebazile Anthony Monserate announced in Alcoy that the provincial government allocated P40 million for the purchase of the equipment that will be placed in local government units chosen as host of the equipment for the clustered LGUs.

Alcoy belongs to a cluster with Boljoon and Dalaguete.

In this set up, Dalaguete will serve as the host of the equipment that will process biodegradable waste residuals like plastics and bottles that can no longer be used. The MRCF of Alcoy will handle the recyclable items.

“Recently, the 10-year solid management plan sa Alcoy na-approved. That’s a very big step para maka-comply sa balaod sa national government,” said Monserate.

In Cebu Province, 41 out of 51 local government units are yet to have a 10-year solid waste management plan (SWMP) approved by the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC).

This is the latest statistics presented at a meeting of LGU representatives in August.

Provincial Solid Waste Management Focal Rhica Evilla said that only the national agency, NSWMC, can approve an SWMP.

PENRO, she said, can only extend technical assistance in order for the LGUs to have their proposed SWMP approved.

Only ten other LGUs have had their SWMP approved namely Bogo City, Boljoon, Borbon, Consolacion, Ginatilan, Madridejos, Pinamungajan, San Francisco, San Remigio, and Sogod.

Eight LGUs have their plans partially approved.

Evilla explained that it means the LGU has already crafted a good SWMP but there are still some portions which need improvement or documentary support.

These are the towns of Alegria, Asturias, Carmen, Daanbantayan, Ronda, Samboan, Tabuelan, and Tudela.

Thirty two other LGUs have already submitted their SWMPs but are still under review by the NSWMC.

Only Dumanjug town has not submitted a proposal. Evilla said that the town has started drafting a SWMP years ago but it is not submitted yet.

She said that the change of local leaders may have affected the making of the ten-year plan.

In 2010, NSWC in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) released a guidebook on how to come up with an SWMP in pursuant to RA 9003.

Meanwhile, 15 LGUs operate open and controlled dumpsites namely Badian, Bantayan, Carmen, Danao City, Dumanjug, Madridejos, Medellin, Oslob, Pilar, Ronda, Santander, Sibonga, Tabogon, Tuburan, and Tudela.

Public sanitary landfills are utilized in Asturias, Dalaguete, and Talisay City.

Consolacion town uses a sanitary landfill of a private provider.

Carcar City, Minglanilla, and Naga City hire private haulers to collect and process their garbage.

On the other hand, the other LGUs use a Residual Containment Area (RCA).

Evilla differentiated the disposal sites. Sanitary landfilling is a method of disposing    the wastes on land, by which the wastes are compacted and covered as it is the final destination of non-recyclable garbage.

On the contrary, a dumpsite is a place for filing garbage. RA 9003 prohibits using dumpsites as the final destination for garbage.

It has been eight years since the publication of the guidelines by the NSWMC and JICA but most LGUs have yet to comply with the requirement.

Aside from helping in coming up with each town's Solid Waste Management Plan, helping fund the making of a MRCF is one of Capitol's support.

Also in November, the provincial government  turned over the P536,000 worth MRCF to the local government of Aloguinsan.

Genseric Tabanao of PENRO said two more MRCF will be turned over soon.

Mayor Caesar Ignatius Moreno of Aloguinsan town received the ceremonial key from Tabanao during the turnover in Barangay Tampaan, which is about five kilometers from the town proper.

Environmental protection has been among the top priorities of the incumbent administration under its six-key agenda. (FREEMAN)