BACOLOD CITY — To comply with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, the city government here is eyeing to construct another sanitary landfill next year.
As of this week, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said a feasibility study is being conducted as they are fast tracking the establishment of the facility.
A second sanitary landfill will be constructed adjacent to the existing landfill in Barangay Felisa, which has become an open dumpsite for lack of maintenance.
Garbage contractor IPM-Construction and Development Corp. (IPM-CDC) dumps unsegregated waste at the existing landfill.
Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu had been warning local government officials that they could face criminal and administrative charges if they continue to operate phased-out open dumps and controlled dump facilities.
It is high time that local government units (LGUs) comply with the provisions of Republic Act 9003, he added.
For his part, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran earlier said the city government has allocated PHP20 million for the expansion of the sanitary landfill with the construction of a second cell.
Familiaran, who heads the Solid Waste Action Team, had been pushing for the “no segregation, no collection” policy as part of the city’s compliance with RA 9003.
Bacolod implemented the waste segregation starting last September 1.
Familiaran said that with the policy, garbage collectors will not pick up the unsegregated wastes of households or business establishments.
“We need the cooperation of everybody for the implementation of Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000),” he added.
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.
The law also seeks to ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste management excluding incineration. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
