DAVAO CITY, Philippines –– Two city government and eight municipalities were found violating the provisions of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Virginia Lobaton, chief of Solid Waste Management Section of the Environmental Management Bureau told reporters during the regular Habi at Kape press conference at Abreeza Mall in Davao City on Wednesday that series of dialogues are being conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the Office of the Ombudsman with the concerned LGUs.
Lobaton refused to name the concerned LGUs in Davao region as the dialogues are still ongoing.
She added that the series of dialogues started in March but did not provide the definite time when it will be wrapped up.
“The series of dialogues is an act of due process before the formal filing of charges,” she emphasized, adding that representatives from the legal division of DENR central office regularly go down in the region to attend the scheduled dialogues with the concerned LGUs.
LGUs in the country are mandated to provide ecological solid waste management program under RA 9003.
It also sets guidelines and targets for LGUs for solid waste avoidance and volume reduction through source reduction and waste minimization measures.
RA 9003 specifically enumerates waste minimization measures – to include composting, recycling, re-use, recovery and green charcoal process.
LGUs are also mandated to designate collection, treatment, and disposal of solid wastes through appropriate and environmentally sound solid waste facilities. (davaotoday.com)
