Espinoza: Enforcement

THE one-hour downpour on Sunday afternoon in Cebu had shown that Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, is yet to be implemented to the letter even after its existence for 18 years. This also demonstrates that most of us still do not care for the environment.

Tons of trash, mostly empty plastic bottles, were washed down the Mahiga Creek in Cebu City and ended up in Subangdaku River in Mandaue City. If not for the bridge in Mabolo, Cebu City that connects Subangdako, Mandaue City, those tons of mixed floating trash would have reached the Mactan Channel.

Who’s to blame? The Cebu City Government and the barangay officials or the people? To me, everyone is responsible. The individuals and the residents who just threw their garbage anywhere as they please and the City Government and the barangay officials for their apparent failure to implement the laws, particularly RA 9003 are responsible.

RA 9003 was passed and approved on Jan. 26, 2001. Under Section 10 of RA 9003, the LGUs are primarily responsible in the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this law within their respective jurisdictions. But I don’t suppose all the LGUs have complied with some of the mandates of this law.

The LGUs are also mandated under Section 12 of RA 9003 to establish their own City or Municipal Waste Management Board that “shall prepare, submit and implement a plan for the safe and sanitary management of solid waste generated in areas under its geographic and political coverage.”

In the beginning, the Cebu City Government, through the barangays, strictly implemented the segregation of waste. Some of my neighbors were fined for disposing their unsegregated waste. But that was only good for about two months or even less. Now, some residents just dumped their garbage on the street across their houses.

The lackadaisical enforcement of the provisions of RA 9003 provided the lazy and undisciplined individuals and residents the opportunity to dispose their trash anytime anywhere. The problem is aggravated by the irregular collection of garbage that have put us in awe since the City Government allocated a big budget for trash collection.

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With the inevitable retirement of Cebu City Police Office Director Royina Garma and her appointment to a rich office as manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes, many police officers are eyeing, if not salivating, to get the prestigious post she left behind.

In the news yesterday, the probable replacement for Garma are Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) 7 Chief Col. Lito Patay, former CIDG 8 Chief Col. Marvin Marcos, and Siquijor Provincial Police Chief Col. Angela Rejano. But if PRO7 Chief Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas were to choose, he would prefer a police woman to head the CCPO.

Mayor Edgardo C. Labella, however, will have his own choice from the three police colonels that Camp Crame endorsed or ask for another endorsement. Nothing personal against the two gentlemen officers, but they were controversial. And, going by the standards of Mayor Labella, I don’t think they would qualify.

Perhaps, Mayor Labella would go with the suggestion of Brig. General Sinas.

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