PB OKs measure to address solid waste issues

The Cebu provincial government has passed two resolutions that would help address the solid waste problems of the local government units (LGU) within the territorial jurisdiction of the Cebu Province.

Provincial Board Member Thadeo Jovito M. Ouano authored the two bills.

Since 2009, the province has provided funds to component cities, municipalities and barangays as capital assistance for the materials recovery facility (MRF) and vermiculture composting, or commonly known as worm composting, under the sustain solid waste management initiatives.

Ouano, in his resolution, said the strategy of providing capital assistance that was intended to obtain recyclables from the households to the barangay, then to the LGU has not worked well.

He added that funds for such purpose were unused and underutilized, causing the inactivity of the bank accounts where the funds are deposited.

Solid Waste Management Officer Elmer Malaga said that the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) provides more than P500,000 to the different LGUs, and these units should be responsible for the allocation of the said funds.

The LGUs need to be given freedom in utilizing the financial assistance granted by the province for the solid waste management.

Resolution No. 1437 would reportedly help address the solid waste issues throughout the province and would give flexibility to the component cities and municipalities and barangays in managing their own solid wastes.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Board has approved the proposed establishment and operations of a sanitary landfill in Barangay Dawis Sur, Carmen, Cebu as the solid waste final disposal site of the municipality of Carmen and other local government units in the fifth district in the province of Cebu.

Barangay Dawis Sur has a population of more or less 2000 residents.

Ouano said the province has acquired an 18-hectare property in Dawis Sur to serve as the final disposal site of the province's solid wastes.

This is in compliance with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003), which aims to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program.

The two resolutions were approved last May 22, 2017.