MAYORS and heads of the Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) last Wednesday signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia for the adoption of a solid waste management system, but Capitol has yet to issue guidelines for the implementation of its garbage recycling and com-posting program.

Provincial Planning and Development Officer Adolfo Quiroga said Capitol will address the concerns of barangay officials who expressed confusion on certain aspects of the program.

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The barangay officials, for instance, need clarification as to which recyclable materials can be sold through the program. They suggested that posters with pictures and labels be displayed at barangay halls to guide local officials and residents.

There is also a need to post an advisory on the prices of different recyclable materials.

Tudela ABC president Jojo Solante proposed that local governments be allowed to earn more than P2 kilo of recyclable materials collected as there are transport costs involved.

Budget

Aside from transport costs, local government units have to purchase weighing scales. The governor said local government units should use their budgets to buy the equipment.

The governor also disclosed she plans to establish an incineration plant in Naga, still under the program dubbed D’GWEN—for Disposal of Garbage and Waste
Enforcement for Nature—and Vermiculture Composting.

Garcia said she has observed in her trips to highly advanced countries that incinerators are more efficient and economically viable than other waste disposal methods. She did not, however, elaborate how this component in the program would be implemented in relation to the incineration ban under the Clean Air Act.

The governor, though, explained how the program coincides with her nickname, Gwen.

“Di ako ang nihangyo, ang uban gusto kaayo mugamit (I did not ask them to use my name; there are those who just want to use it),” Garcia said.

After a year, a new memorandum of agreement will be signed by the governor and the local government officials. The Capitol will have to check, though if the revenue generated by local government units can be used for other projects.

Bank account

Each barangay and town will have its own account with the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) and will be issued individual ledgers. DBP will allow the local government units to withdraw from the account, but only to buy recyclables.

Revenues cannot be used for other purposes for at least a year.

The governor said that this will be strictly monitored and a monthly on-site monitoring team will also visit the local government units.

“To minimize the paper work, each barangay should open an account at the Development Bank of the Philippines so that the seed money of P15,000 will be immediately credited there.

Currently, 700 to 800 barangays have already opened their accounts at DBP. So, it saves time than preparing more than a thousand checks. It is also efficient,” Garcia said.

Under Republic Act (RA) 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, President Arroyo gave the province P100 million as seed money for the solid waste management system of 1,093 barangays in Cebu.