Review of solid waste management law pushed

Friday, February 17, 2012

KAGAY-ANON Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III is seeking to review the solid waste management law to ease numerous environmental concerns that reportedly add up to the social problems affecting local government units (LGUs).

Pimentel recently filed a resolution at the Senate directing the committees on health demography, local government and other appropriate committees to conduct an inquiry on the condition of all dumpsites in the country.

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He said the resolution also meant to determine and recommend appropriate action that would effectively facilitate the full implementation of the 2003 Solid Waste Management Act in the wake of reports that more than 1,000 LGUs operating open and controlled dumpsites nationwide have been tagged for various environmental offenses and violations.

“I believe that efficient solid waste management is a major key in preventing killer flash floods as well as deterring the spread of communicable diseases that usually arise after a destructive typhoon,” Pimentel said in an emailed statement.

He noted that seven years after its enactment, the law has not been fully complied with, not because the LGUs did not want to, but it is due to its stringent standards and requirements and inadequate funding support.

Pimentel added that his advocacy to increase the internal revenue allotment shares of the LGUs will render more efficient performance of local officials in the delivery of social services, including but not limited to compliance of the Solid Waste Management law.

“I believe that these twin objectives go hand in hand in our desire to make the LGUs as self-reliant as possible. That is why I am calling for an inquiry on this matter to evaluate the implementation of RA 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act,” he said.

Pimentel said they want to find out how far and how deep has the implementation of the Solid Waste Management law gone in the light of several aggravating environmental situations that have happened around the country.

He added that local autonomy cannot be made effective if the LGUs cannot even handle their own environmental issues at their level.

“There is an urgent need for the systematic rehabilitation of the decommissioned dumpsites to reduce the continuing biological, chemical and physical threats similar, if not worse, than various incidents in the past which also resulted in the death of several persons and destruction of millions worth of properties,” Pimentel said.

Under Republic Act No. 9003, the Solid Waste Management Commission (SWMC) was created whose principal responsibility is to be the coordinating body for the implementation of the provisions of the statute.

The commission is specifically tasked to fund and study standards, criteria and guidelines for the promulgation and implementation of an integrated national solid waste management program.

Pimentel said the tasks of SWMC are clearly defined, which is to approve, review and monitor local waste management plans and coordinate the operation of local waste management boards in provincial, city and municipal levels.

He said the inquiry will determine to an extent how LGUs can be provided the operational leeway to contribute their individual and collective shares in environmental protection through proper solid waste management practices.

“I believe that a review is necessary as this will give us a bird’s eye view of the current situation and offer long-term solutions to the worsening environmental problems, not to mention the catastrophes brought about by our inability to prepare adequately against weather disturbances,” Pimentel said. (Nicole J. Managbanag)