Council passes new anti-littering ordinance

THE Bacolod City Council approved an ordinance that prohibits the littering of plastics, papers, or any other waste in open or public places, waterways and recreational areas, repealing City Ordinance 105, Series of 1982.

The ordinance, authored by Councilor Em Ang, is in line with Section 48 (1) of Republic Act (RA) 9003, otherwise known as the "Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000."

RA 9003 prohibits the littering, throwing, dumping of waste matters in public places, such as roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros or parks, and establishment, or causing or permitting the same.

Ang observed that there is a need to intensify the campaign on proper waste disposal to prevent ecological and environmental degradation, endangering public health, and flood.

A sense of discipline must be imposed and observed by the residents of Bacolod City to promote ecological justice and sustainable development, she added.

Any person caught in violation of the ordinance shall, upon conviction, be fined P500 for the first offense and P1,000 for the succeeding offenses, and shall render community service for not less than one day to not more than 15 days.

For any residence, business establishment and/or any other entity, the penalty will be P1,000 for the first offense and P2,000 for the succeeding offense with a corresponding cancellation of license to operate for business establishments.

The ordinance also provides for the creation of the Anti-Littering Task Force that shall be composed of three enforcers each from the Composite Enforcement Unit of the City Legal Office, the Department of Public Services and the Environment and Natural Resources Office (Enro).

The task force shall be jointly supervised by the head of the Composite Enforcement Unit and the Enro chief. It shall be responsible for the strict implementation of the ordinance.

The ordinance also calls on the City Government to embark on massive information dissemination and regularly conduct awareness campaign on proper solid waste management, segregation, and disposal.

The City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the Department of Public Services are tasked to jointly monitor its implementation.

The Department of Public Services is given the responsibility for the timely and proper collection of solid wastes in the city. It must also publicize its collection dates in the areas concerned and coordinate with the barangays and public markets as to their garbage problems.