DENR OKs 1,082 solid waste management plans

MANILA, Philippines — The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) has approved 1,082 solid waste management plans (SWMP) submitted by local government units (LGUs), which is equivalent to 63 percent of its target nationwide.

Recently approved were four SWMPs submitted by Misamis Oriental LGUs; Camarines Sur, three; Misamis Occidental, Ilocos Norte, Benguet and Lanao del Norte, two each, and Cagayan, Albay, Sorsogon, Leyte, Northern Samar and Zamboanga del Sur, one each.

“Enabling our local executives to strengthen their capacities for effective solid waste management is a priority of the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) and the NSWMC, especially LGUs facing difficulties with their solid waste management programs,” Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said.

Data from the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau showed that 558 SWMPs are under evaluation, 332 of which are almost complete pending the submission of additional data, mostly involving budgetary requirements and specifics on proper final disposal facilities.

For LGUs that cannot put up their own facilities, the DENR and the NSWMC are looking at clustering or the sharing of sanitary landfills.

DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda bared plans for a public-private partnership for the establishment of additional 300 sanitary landfills nationwide in the next two years.

“There are only 237 sanitary landfills. across the country servicing some 449 LGUs... This number is still regrettably small,” he said.