THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reminded barangays that the collection of garbage is also their responsibility.
According to DILG 7 Director Leocadio Trovela, the barangays’ role is critical because Republic Act (RA) 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, mandates the establishment of the Barangay Solid Waste Management Committee to formulate segregation and collection systems.
“The barangay government should be the one to implement the segregation and collection policy of garbage. The DILG has a program to monitor their compliance,” Trovela said, referring to the agency’s Seal of Good Local Governance for Barangays, which will be the “gold standard” in assessing the performance of a barangay as they fulfill their mandate to deliver excellent service to the people.
Trovela, though, clarified that the garbage issue should not be left to the barangays alone, urging city and municipal governments to ensure that barangay captains are doing their job.
“That’s the role of the City Government or the Municipal Government in that aspect,” he said.
While the DILG has no disciplining authority over barangays, the agency can file charges against them before the city or municipal council or the Office of the Ombudsman, he said. That is why the agency is reminding barangays about their mandate on garbage, he said.
Technical, financial aid sought
“Until now, no barangays have been charged because they immediately complied with the law after DILG informed them about the complaints (of uncollected garbage),” Trovela said.
He also said the DILG is conducting an environmental compliance audit on guidelines on base-lining of local government units (LGUs) with respect to the implementation of environmental laws.
“We will know the compliance of LGUs in so far as implementation of environmental laws like RA 9003, especially in the collection of garbage and cleaning of the environment,” he said.
When sought for comment, Provincial Board (PB) Member Celestino “Tining” Martinez III urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the DILG to first provide technical and financial assistance to barangays before filing cases against them with regard to uncollected garbage.
Martinez, Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Cebu president, made the appeal in behalf of the 1,064 barangays in Cebu Province.
The ABC Federation president sits as an ex-officio member of the PB.
Martinez said the DENR, which is tasked to implement RA 9003, has started filing cases against non-compliant LGUs.
He told SunStar Cebu 40 percent of the barangays are not capable of disposing solid waste in accordance with the law due to lack of technical know-how and funds.
He said most barangays can only perform segregation of trash and recycling of waste materials to reduce waste. They rely on the municipal government or city government to collect garbage and dump it in government-accredited landfills.
While barangays are in the front line in implementing RA 9003, majority of them cannot afford to buy dump trucks or create their own landfill, Martinez added.