ABOUT 33 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Island Region (NIR) are non-compliant with the provisions of the Republic Act (RA) 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
These LGUs particularly failed on the submission of the 10-year Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Plan, and establishment of their respective disposal facility, mainly sanitary landfill.
Sophie Manuel, officer-in-charge director of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB)-NIR, confirmed this during the press conference for the observance of the Environment Month at the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office in Bacolod City on Monday, June 6.
Based on the June 2016 ESWM Compliance Status Report of DENR-NIR, 15 out of 32 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental are non-compliant with the said provisions of RA 9003, either the 10-year ESWM plan or the sanitary landfill, or both.
These are E.B. Magalona, Himamaylan City, Hinobaan, Isabela, Kabankalan City, La Castellana, Manapla, Murcia, Pontevedra, Sagay City, Silay City, Talisay City, Toboso, Valladolid, and Victorias City.
In Negros Oriental, only seven of the 25 LGUs are compliant. Those with violations are Canlaon City, Vallehermoso, La Libertad, Jimalalud, Tayasan, Ayungon, Bindoy, Manjuyod, Mabinay, Bais City, Pamplona, Tanjay City, San Jose, Valencia, Bacong, Dauin, Siaton, and Sta. Catalina.
Reports further showed that of the 15 non-compliant LGUs in Negros Occidental, nine have no 10-year ESWM plans and sanitary landfills; one with no ESWM plan but with sanitary landfill; and five with ESWM plan, but failed to establish sanitary landfill.
All 18 non-compliant LGUs in Negros Oriental do not have 10-year ESWM plans and sanitary landfills, except for Bais City, which has sanitary landfill only.
For the entire region, only three compliant LGUs such as Bacolod City, Bago City and Cadiz City, all in Negros Occidental, have their plans and sanitary landfills.
The rest have submitted ESWM plans, but have no landfill, including Dumaguete City of Negros Oriental, it added.
Manuel pointed out that some compliant LGUs lack funds to establish their own sanitary landfills, but are temporarily using those of nearby cities and municipalities.
“We are reminding and warning the LGUs to comply as the law has been implemented since 2000, thus there is no more valid reason for them to continue violating it,” Manuel said, stressing that by now, there should be no more open and controlled dumpsite, only sanitary landfill.
The Office of the Ombudsman has already filed complaints against 50 LGUs for non-compliance with the said provisions of RA 9003.
For now, Manuel said cities and municipalities in NIR are not among those subpoenaed by the Ombudsman.
“But there are still 150 additional complaints coming, so let us just wait and see,” she said.
“Aside from the mayor, all members of the city and municipal councils of the erring LGUs will be required to explain for non-compliance and may face corresponding administrative charges,” Manuel added.