EcoWaste Coalition pushes for enforcement of RA 9003

CEBU, Philippines — An environmental and health coalition has appealed for heightened enforcement of the country’s waste prevention and reduction law as newly-elected governors and mayors assume their posts.

In a press statement, the EcoWaste Coalition called on the chief executives of the 1,715 provinces, cities and municipalities nationwide to demonstrate their political will to implement Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, to address the growing garbage problem in their respective areas of responsibility.

“We call upon all newly elected or re-elected local leaders to make the effective enforcement of RA 9003 as centerpiece of their environmental governance for the next three years,” said Aileen Lucero, EcoWaste Coalition national coordinator.

RA 9003 aims to “ensure the protection of the public health and environment.”

It further seeks to “ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste management excluding incineration.”

Lucero said that enforcing this law is a key component of all efforts towards zero-waste, toxic free and disaster resilient communities.

She said that observing proper waste disposal and reduction measures will lessen the garbage from piling up on the streets, most importantly to prevent flashfloods that are usually caused by plastic-choked waterways.

Lucero added that it will also help in creating recycling-based industries and social enterprises that can provide livelihood to Filipino families.

To complement local initiatives, the EcoWaste Coalition stressed the need for the Office of the President or the 18th Congress to enact a national ban on single-use plastics and for the industries to phase out with reasonable timelines those packaging that are not reusable, recyclable or compostable. (FREEMAN)