WV LGUs VIOLATE WASTE LAW
Many still operate open dumpsites
ILOILO City – Only 30 percent of local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas have complied with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act that prohibits open dumpsites, according to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 6.
“With the Office of the Ombudsman as our partner, we will be implementing this law seriously,” EMB regional director Ariel Gloria warned LGUs.
Western Visayas has 98 local government units – five cities and 95 municipalities in five provinces.
Early this year, the Solid Waste Management Council of EMB-6 endorsed to the National Solid Waste Management Commission ( NSWMC) for further validation 15 LGUs maintaining open dumpsites in violation of the Act’s Article 1, Section 17.
he lamented.
The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act should be implemented whoever leads a local government unit, Gloria stressed.
Last year, the Environmental Ombudsman i nvestigated six LGUs in Western Visayas – the towns of Ajuy, Santa Barbara, Sara, Banate, and Concepcion, all in Iloilo province, and Nabas in Aklan for operating open dumpsites.
As of the first quarter ( 2017) monitoring, Gloria said these LGUs already closed their open dumpsites and have started practicing solid waste management and resource conservation recovery.
These LGUs will be continuously monitored for compliance, said Gloria, based on their respective 10- year solid waste management plans that NSWMC approved.
Gloria and Ildefonso led the opening of the 2017 Regional Solid Waste Management Summit and Expo yesterday at Amigo Terrace Hotel.
“This Regional Solid Waste Management Summit and Expo could help LGUs practice proper solid waste management,” said Ildefonso.
Agency/ PN) (With a report from the Philippine News