|
Sunday, January 15, 2006
LGUs reminds closure of dumpsites
ENVIRONMENT officials are reminding local government units (LGUs) in Central Mindanao to fast tract the development of sanitary landfills as all controlled dumpsites across the country is deemed close by February.
Jim Sampulna, regional director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, offered to extend technical assistance to LGUs in constructing sanitary landfills.
"We will explore all possibilities in helping the local government units manage their solid waste problems," Sampulna said.
The closure of dumpsites on February 26 is seen to worsen the already mounting
garbage woes of localities not just in the region but also in many parts of the country.
Under Republic Act 9003, the first bill signed into law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2001, all open dumpsites shall be phased out in favor of sanitary landfills five years after its passage.
Lawyer Zoilo Andin Jr., executive director of the National Solid Waste Management Commission, said that LGUs should seriously address garbage problems to avert health and environmental complications.
"There is presently a full range of technologies available from biodegradable to compostable waste processing equipment," he said.
Andin added the Department of Science and Technology has already developed equipment like shredder machines, which could be used to reduce volume of garbage and hastening the decomposition process.
Republic Act 9003 promotes the segregation of recyclable and non-recyclable wastes.
It also metes a penalty of up to P500,000 fine (for first offense) for the establishment or operation of open dump sites after the prescriptive five-year period has elapsed following the Act's approval, and imprisonment for one to three years for subsequent violations plus the fine.
Carlito Uy, president of the South Cotabato Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Inc, pointed out that garbage is a growing problem of the localities in the province.
Uy cited this city as an example of having "a perennial garbage problem."
"We are not actually a clean city. Garbage is dumped just anywhere," Uy pointed out to a roadside littered with all kinds of rubbish that the city garbage trucks fail to gather. (RBS)
(January 2, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
