161 LGUS around Manila Bay area receive shredder-composters from DENR

ATOTAL of 161 local government units (LGUS) within the Manila Bay region have been provided with shredder-composter units.

The project, a joint effort of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the office of Senator Cynthia Villar is part of the ongoing effort to address pollution in Manila Bay.

There are a total of 178 LGUS in eight provinces within the so-called Manila Bay region that stretches from Cavite to Bataan province.

The Manila Bay region consists of the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Bataan, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac in Central Luzon; Cavite, Rizal, and Laguna in Calabarzon, and the 16 cities and one municipality in Metro Manila.

Of the 161 shredder-composter units distributed, Laguna received 30; Nueva Ecija, 30; Bulacan, 24; Pampanga, 22; Cavite, 23; Rizal, 14; Bataan, 12; and Tarlac, 6.

The remaining 17 are up for bidding and the DENR aims to complete the bidding process and installation, and to turn them over to their respective LGU hosts within the quarter.

“This is part of our continuing efforts to clean up Manila Bay, as ordered in the Supreme Court continuing mandamus. Solid waste management is a major concern in the rehabilitation of the Bay along with the illegal discharge of untreated wastewater,” Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said in a news statement.

The DENR chief cited Villar’s advocacy for environmental stewardship, saying it has amplified the DENR’S voice for it to be “clearly heard within the halls of the Senate.”

“Undoubtedly, her advocacy has been a big push for the DENR strides to overcome profound challenges particularly in getting LGUS to prioritize compliance with RA 9003 in their governance, especially in the Manila Bay area,” Cimatu said.

DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units Concerns Benny D. Antiporda said the 161 units of shredder-composter have been formally turned over to the respective local governments.

“This is a huge help to LGUS to comply with the provisions of Republic Act [RA] 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. It is anchored on the support Sen. Villar has been giving to us in the DENR,” Antiporda said.

Antiporda, meanwhile lauded Villar’s determination to equip all LGUS with composting facilities, which will facilitate compliance of LGUS with RA 9003 and boost measures to prevent dumping of solid and liquid wastes into Manila Bay’s water.