HERE we are again. “No Segregation, No Collection.”
When was the last time that Bacolod Vice Mayor and Solid Waste Action Team chairman, El Cid Familiaran cracked the whip?
I googled my writes-up on ecological solid waste management on Familiaran’s promise. The search engine brought me to Trash talk which SunStar posted on its February 5, 2018.
A year ago, the vice mayor ticked off Barangays 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 22, 35, Cabug, Estefania, Granada and Alijis for non-comliance “No Segregation, No Collection” policy of the city.
Was there any compliance? I live in Alijis. Garbage is collected every Thursday and Friday. I have no problem with the collection. I doff my hat off to them for due diligence.
But segregation? No, sir, you don’t get a cigar. Nothing of that sort. There are even no signages - or trash bins - that say biodegradables and non-biodegradables.
Familiaran last year said he will request the DENR to take action against these violators. It’s now April 2019. Familiaran said they will deploy teams to monitor compliance with the city’s waste segregation program in the barangays after the May 13 mid-term elections.
The Bacolod City government will “intensify” the implementation of the “No Segregation, No Collection” policy in the city, in preparation for the completion of Cell No. 2 at the sanitary landfill in Barangay Felisa.
That’s a funny one. Nice word. “INTENSIFY.” How is that reflected in real life? Just walk around downtown. Are solid waste being segregated? Where are PET bottles placed? Sando bags?
Familiaran said the Enforcement Team will impose penalties against violators of RA 9003. That is what he said last year. Enforcement was to be highly visible. Like the Anti-jaywalking and the helmet laws so that citizens are compelled to comply. Or else...
Well, it’s El Niño. Around the streets we feel the hot air. Elections are just around the corner. The politicians must be contributing.
These promises will turn out to be a lot of wasted time.