DUE to ongoing major programs and activities of all the barangays in Bacolod, the Liga ng mga Barangay has requested Mayor Evelio Leonardia to move the start of implementation of the "no segregation, no collection" policy to April 1.
Leonardia said that after consultation with Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chair of the Solid Waste Action Team (Swat), he is set to approve the Liga resolution as soon as it is submitted to his office Monday [March 2], provided that this would be the last postponement.
"While the vice-mayor and I understand their situation and will grant their request, it must be made clear that this should be the last postponement. Likewise, we salute the 11 barangays that volunteered to start as pilot areas beginning March 1," Leonardia added.
Liga ng mga Barangay president Councilor Lady Gles Gonzales-Pallen said that although they have requested to move the date of implementation, 11 barangays have already agreed to start with their "no segregation, no collection" policy on March 1.
These pilot barangays are: 17, 18, 22, 31, 37, Alangilan, Bata, Alijis, Estefania, Handumanan, and Taculing.
The City Government had intended to start implementing the policy on March 1, but the Liga had asked the mayor to give them ample time to implement it, since they are presently tied up with five other major tasks as ordered by the national government.
These are the monitoring and preparations against the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and African Swine Fever (ASF), drug-clearing operations, anti-illegal gambling operations, and road-clearing operations.
The Liga said waste segregation must be given full attention to help minimize the volume of garbage, but at present they are also occupied with several big tasks.
The Liga ng mga Barangay met with its members, as well as with the mayor, vice mayor, and the Solid Waste Management Board Saturday [February 29], to discuss the "no segregation, no collection" policy and came up with a resolution requesting the mayor to defer the date of its implementation.
The "no segregation, no collection" policy is in compliance with Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. (PR)