Bacolod forms Swat for waste segregation

THE Bacolod City Government has formed the Solid Waste Action Team (Swat) to monitor the implementation of waste segregation that will start before the MassKara Festival in October.

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chairman of Swat, said Wednesday, July 19, that Mayor Evelio Leonardia ordered its creation along with the Solid Waste Enforcement and Educators Team, and Waste Analysis Characterization Study.

Swat vice chairperson is Councilor Cindy Rojas, and its members include the City Environment and Natural Resources Office, Public Information Office, Department of Public Service, among others. “We should study the wastes that have been dumped by our residents in various areas," Familiaran said.

He said a series of meetings were already conducted for the implementation of Republic Act No. 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. The City Government had earlier postponed the implementation of “no segregation, no collection” policy to give concerned personnel more time to prepare.

Familiaran said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) demanded the start of the implementation of waste segregation next month, but the Swat team asked more time for preparation. The Swat met with the barangay officials Thursday, July 20 to determine their role in the implementation of the “no segregation, no collection” policy.

“The role of the barangay officials is very important. Hopefully, we could educate our residents on how to segregate waste at source,” Familiaran said.

He said the DENR will give a P1 million cash prize for the clean and green barangay winner. The noncompliant barangays may face penalties or charges, Familiaran added. SS-Bacolod