Monday, June 26, 2006
Local gov't units can be forgiven on no dumpsite conversion: environment
By Jane Cadalig
LOCAL government units (LGUs) that have not yet established their controlled dumpsite and sanitary landfills will not be fined P500,000 as provided for in Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law, said Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes.
Reyes said LGUs should be forgiven for their failure to comply with the provisions of the law, admitting that even the department was late in promulgating the guidelines relative to the closure of open dumpsites and their eventual conversion into controlled dump facilities (CDF).
RA 9003 mandates all LGUs to convert their open dumps to controlled facility by February this year. Failure to comply subject an LGU to a fine of P500,000 and criminal charges to be filed with the Office of the Ombudsman. The law also provides that the CDFs should be transformed into sanitary landfills by 2007.
But Reyes, who was the guest of honor and speaker in Saturday's recyclable collection event at the La Trinidad public market, said the penalties would not be imposed in the meantime to give LGUs adequate time to establish their CDFs, which he admitted is a costly undertaking for local governments.
Since the law's passage in 2000, Reyes said only 304 open dumpsites nationwide have been transformed into controlled garbage facilities.
In Cordillera, only La Trinidad was able to put up its CDF, situated at sitio Induyan in Barangay Alno. The town is expected to operate the facility next month.
(June 26, 2006 issue)
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