Metro Manila subdivisions agree to improve garbage management

MANILA -- Eleven out of 17 local governments in Metro Manila agreed to establish appropriate ecological solid waste management systems for homeowners associations of subdivisions and condominiums, the government said Saturday.

These are Caloocan City, Pasay City, Taguig City, Pateros, Marikina City, Mandaluyong City, Malabon City, Valenzuela City, Quezon City, Manila City, and Parañaque City.

“The challenge is for all of us, particularly the local leaders, to find ways by which we could actually get all families, without exemption, in the act,” Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Ramon Paje said.

The memorandum of agreement targets the establishment of an ESWM system in concerned barangays and homeowners associations within a period of one year.

In Metro Manila, a total of 4,717 HOAs have already been identified for assistance.

Such a system includes segregation at source, segregated collection, and establishment of a materials recovery facility (MRF).

The HOAs should also have, within the same period, diverted at least 50 percent of their waste, and publicized reports on issued ordinances, violations, and model practitioners.

For its part, the LGU will be responsible for identifying a non-government or any private sector organization as partner in identifying the appropriate ESWM system to be adopted by the subdivisions or municipalities.

It will also provide counterpart personnel, including “environmental police” in barangays, who will assist in the implementation of the technical, enforcement and financial aspects of the project.

Also under the MOA, the DENR-attached National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), will provide the necessary technical support to the LGU and conduct overall coordination and monitoring.

Quarterly reports must also be made on inception, liquidation of finances, waste diversion and assessment. The timetable also includes the schedule of releases for fund support earlier promised by the DENR to the LGUs.

Metro Manila generates more than 8,700 tons of garbage daily, or around 25 percent of the country’s total daily generation of 35,000 tons, official records show. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

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