‘Unifying’ order on Metro garbage urged

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has said a “unifying” order from the DENR, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and Quezon City government is urgently needed to address garbage woes in Metro Manila following the temporary closure of the Payatas landfill.

The DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau in the National Capital Region issued last August 2 a temporary closure order for the Payatas landfill pending the review of the environmental compliance certificate of the landfill operator, IPM Environmental Services Inc.

A meeting at the DENR attended by MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim and Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista was held last Monday to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, DENR Undersecretary Jonas Leones said the DENR will strictly enforce the provision of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

“We will be collecting, segregating, and establishing materials recovery facility (MRF). Under our budget we are provided by Congress to support the LGUs in (the establishment of) their MRFs,” Leones said.

The law requires that each barangay should establish its MRF which will receive waste for final sorting according to its type for composting and recycling. It should also be designed to receive, sort, process and store compostable and recyclable material efficiently and in an environmentally sound manner.

“We will be enhancing or improving our closing of open dumpsites to be converted to sanitary landfills,” Leones said. (Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz)