10-year solid waste program comes to fruition

LAMUT, Ifugao -- This municipality is on track in the implementation of its 10-year Municipal Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan that began in 2002 and culminates this year.

Felicidad Tenenan, Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office designated-head and concurrent Municipal Budget Officer, said they painstakingly implemented the various programs and activities relative to the plan.

Pursuant to Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Law, the Municipal Ecological Solid Waste Management Board (MESWMB) was organized in 2002 to formulate actions for solid waste management programs and projects.

The MESWMB then made their action plan for the coming years that include education and trainings or workshops, enforcement, engineering and entrepreneurship on the mechanisms of reduction, reuse, recycling and collection of garbage, waste segregation for zero waste management and on livelihood projects.

The Municipal Government enacted an ordinance on solid waste management with corresponding penalties and adopted incentives and awards to inculcate discipline among the citizenry through legal sanctions and to promote excellence in solid waste management by giving awards and incentives.

A team was organized and through the years it conducted information and education campaign in the different barangays and schools regarding RA 9003 and its municipal ordinance counterpart.

Experts were also tapped to conduct trainings on the 3Rs and C of solid waste management to teachers, students, garbage collectors, volunteers, barangay officials and farmers and women’s organizations.

To provide the infrastructure facilities and equipment required for the effective implementation of the MESWMB, the Board established a controlled landfill dumpsite, material recovery facility and a processing facility for composted waste material that will be used for fertilizers.

It also constructed road going to the dumpsite and designated a common area for composting and the fabrication of shredding and composting equipments for waste collection, segregation and disposal.

The Board also purchased and maintains two compactors, one dump truck and one bulldozer.

Recently, it launched the contest for “Best Solid Waste Management Implementers of 2012” to be awarded during the town fiesta celebration. (Dan B. Codamon)