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NSWC assesses Sorsogon City’s solid waste management program

by Benny A. Recebido

SORSOGON CITY (March 13) -– Representatives from the National Solid Waste Commission (NSWC) visited Friday, March 9, and had conducted an assessment on the implementation of R.A. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 by the city government here.

Engr. Janet Tagaza, Science Research Specialist and Engr. Rey Monreal from the NSWC Secretariat were assisted by Engr. Maribeth L. Fruto, Provincial Environment Management Officer, DENR-EMB V, Sorsogon City Mayor Sally A. Lee, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer Dante Bonos and City Engineer Rico Jimenez.

Republic Act 9003 provides the legal framework for the country’s systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that shall ensure protection of public health and the environment. It underscores, among other things, the need to create the necessary institutional mechanisms and incentives, as well as impose penalties for acts in violation of any of its provisions.

PEMO Maribeth Fruto said that based from RA 9003, all Local Government Units must implement either sanitary landfills or disposal facility within 1 - 4 categories (category 1-not more than 15 tons/day; category 2-not more than 75 tons/day; category 3-not more than 200 tons/day and category 4-above 200 tons/day).

“So far, in the Bicol region no one yet has complied in terms of sanitary landfill due to its high cost. We can only find here controlled dumpsites or alternative dumping sites. In the Philippines, Puerto Princesa, Baez City, Cebu and Capaz, Tarlac have sanitary landfills, and the most stunning and highly technological landfill is Capaz ,” she added.

According to Engr. Fruto, among the four requirements needed for proper solid waste disposal are segregation at source, segregated collection, closure of open dumpsites and establishment of Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in barangays.

“Based from the assessment,...