EMB7 allocates P35M worth of SWM equipment for 35 LGUs in C. Visayas

MINERVA BC NEWMAN

TAGBILARAN CITY – The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-Central Visayas turned over Wednesday, July 20, P26 million worth of solid waste management (SWM) equipment 26 local government units (LGUs) in Bohol Province as part of the P35 million SWM equipment composed of Rotary Composter with Biodegradable Shredder and Solar Powered CCTV Camera that are intended for 35 LGUs in Central Visayas.

Cindylyn Pepito, Chief Environmental Education and Information Unit of EMB7 told this writer that this is just the initial distribution to provide the LGUs in the region with a comprehensive assistance for their local waste management system.

“This is the 4th year that EMB has provided these SWM equipment to LGUs. For this year, only 35 equipment will be given. First turnover for Bohol for 26 LGUs while the remaining equipment will be given to some LGUs in Cebu, Negros Oriental and Siquijor within August this year,” she added.

Pepito said, the DENR-EMB7 team will continue to educate the public on how to manage waste at the household and community levels.  The 26 LGUs in Bohol include the towns of ALICIA, BALILIHAN, BATUAN, BIEN UNIDO, BILAR. CALAPE, CATIGBIAN, CLARIN, CORTES, DAGOHOY, DAUIS, DIMIAO, GARCIA HERNANDEZ, TRINIDAD, LILA, LOAY, LOBOC, MABINI, MARIBOJOC, PILAR, SAGBAYAN, SAN ISIDRO, SAN MIGUEL, SEVILLA, SIERRA BULLONES and SIKATUNA.

 "We will continue to provide assistance to comprehensively implement RA 9003.   The EMB has strengthened our partnerships with all LGUs in the country to achieve the primary objective of the law,” EMB7 regional director Maribel Munsayac said during the ceremonial turnover in Bohol.

She noted that implementation of RA 9003 has been an uphill battle not just from the national government agencies but most especially from the LGUs. 

The Bohol ceremonial turnover was attended by Governor Erico Aristotle Augmentado, former cabinet secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., EMB Regional Director Maribel Munsayac, DENR ARD Charlie Fabre and officials from the 26 LGU beneficiaries.

 Status of the implementation of RA 9003 in PH

According to Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Unit Concerns Benny Antiporda, in an article published @denr.gov.ph, that DENR has not failed to provide technical assistance to local government units (LGUs) to ensure compliance with the provisions of RA 9003.

The article said that under RA 9003, LGUs are primarily responsible for the effective and efficient solid waste management, particularly garbage segregation and disposal and that each LGU is required to develop a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) including the establishment of materials recovery facilities (MRF) and sanitary landfills.

Antiporda noted that DENR, through its National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) had evaluated 605 SWMPs, approved 410 SWMPs and monitored the implementation of 618 rehabilitation plans, accomplishing 103 percent and 128 percent of the annual targets of 400 and 482, respectively. He said, DENR had already met or even exceeded some of its 2019 targets on solid waste management.

It also assessed a total of 340 open and controlled dumpsites, Antiporda said. The environment chief had earlier ordered the closure of all open and controlled dumpsites by 2022.

DENR, with support from the regional offices of its Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), had assessed 84 proposed sites of sanitary landfills nationwide, overshooting its target of 48 by 75 percent, the report said.

Antiporda added that 509 out of 580 established MRFs have been supported by the DENR. “We expect Regions 3, 9, 13 and CAR (Cordillera Administrative Region) to accomplish this activity by end of December 2019,” he added.

DENR reported to have monitored and assessed 2,833 existing MRFs, including those with composting facilities in 2019, showing an accomplishment of 106 percent of its 2019 targets of 2,661 MRFs. (Photos: DENR FB/Google Images)