Bacolod officials, village chiefs attend solid waste management seminar

BACOLOD City government officials along with the 45 village chiefs in the city attended a two-day seminar on solid waste management seminar in Makati City from February 3 to 4.

Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who initiated the seminar with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said yesterday the village chiefs who joined the activity paid for their own expenses.

“This seminar is a big help to our barangay officials for the implementation of the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,” he said.

He added the seminar was conducted by the MMDA at their main office in Makati City because it’s part of their mandate - the development planning, traffic and transport management, health and sanitation, urban protection and pollution control, urban renewal, zoning and land use planning and shelter services, and solid waste disposal and management public safety.

Familiaran noted that some of the barangay officials failed to join them because of their prior commitments.

He pointed out that this seminar is also in preparation for the implementation of waste segregation policy this year.

The vice mayor said the village chiefs are the “frontliners” in the implementation of waste segregation, traffic rules and clearing of illegal structures within their areas of jurisdiction.

Also present in the seminar were Councilors Cindy Rojas, Ana Marie Palermo, Bartolome Orola, Renecito Novero and Elmer Sy.

Last month, Familiaran reiterated to all barangay officials to educate their constituents in the implementation of RA 9003.

“We need the cooperation of everybody to comply with the waste segregation policy and our barangay officials have a big role in the implementation of this program,” Familiaran said.

The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 provides that local government units shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this law within their respective jurisdictions.*