EcoWaste Coalition Says Flashfloods in MM Another Wake-Up Call, Reiterates Need for Enforcing R.A. 9003
The
flashfloods that hit many parts of Metro Manila due to the heavy rains dumped by
the southwest monsoon as enhanced by severe tropical storm “Domeng” should
serve as another wake-up call for households and other waste generators.
“Irresponsible
trash disposal has no doubt contributed to the flashfloods that affected many
commuters, residents and businesses. As
the familiar saying goes: “basurang tinapon mo, babalik sa iyo,” said Daniel
Alejandre, Zero Waste Campaigner, EcoWaste Coalition.
“It is no secret that recklessly thrown garbage --- from tiny cigarette filters
to the omnipresent plastic bags ---- can
end up in storm drains and esteros blocking the flow of water and triggering
flashfloods that can endanger people’s lives,” he said.
“Reckless trash disposal also results in the dumping of plastics and other pollutants
from land into the Pasig River and its tributaries and into Manila Bay
To address these twin solid waste and chemical woes harming the oceans, the EcoWaste
Coalition renewed its call on the national and local governments to intensify
the enforcement of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management
Act.
R.A. 9003, among other things, prohibits the dumping of waste matters in
streets, canals, esteros and other public places and punishes such act with a fine
of P300 to P1,000, or one to 15-day community service, or both.
“The long-delayed issuance of the list of non-environmentally acceptable products
and packaging materials, which R.A. 9003 requires the National Solid Waste
Management Commission to do, will surely help in reducing the dumping of waste
and chemical pollutants to the marine environment,” Alejandre said.
“We hope Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu as chair of the commission will make
this a top priority this year in line with the global goal of beating plastic
pollution as well as preventing ocean pollution of all kinds, especially from
land-based sources,” he said.
The group further expressed its hope that the new set of community and youth officials
who will assume their office on June 30 will take the lead in enforcing R.A.
9003 at the barangay level.
“We hope newly-elected Barangay and
Sangguniang Kabataan officials will take R.A. 9003 to heart and make it a
centerpiece in building zero waste, toxics-free and disaster resilient communities,”
Alejandre said.
Newly-constituted barangay councils should conduct a critical
review of current ecological solid waste management programs, beef up their
solid waste management committee if needed, set progressive goals and
targets, and come up with innovative strategies, including maximizing the
vital role of the informal waste sector, the EcoWaste Coalition suggested.
R.A. 9003 specifically requires the country’s over 42,000 barangays to
develop ecological solid waste management programs, promote waste separation
at source, enforce a segregated collection for biodegradable and
non-biodegradable waste, and establish Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in
every barangay or cluster of barangays.
-end-
http://www.chanrobles.com/republicactno9003.htm
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