BACOLOD CITY — The City of Bacolod has asked the Environmental Management Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) Region 6 to conduct training for enforcers of the city’s solid waste management program.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, who heads the Solid Waste Action Team (SWAT), said Monday he is waiting for a response from EMB-6 for the schedule of the training.
Those who will undergo training are 21 personnel under the Solid Waste Enforcers and Educators Team (SWEET).
The team will be deputized to impose penalty to violators of the “no segregation, no collection” policy as part of the city’s compliance with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
Familiaran had earlier directed the enforcers to suspend the arrest of violators since they still have to undergo a training.
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.
As part of its compliance with RA 9003, the city government is eyeing to construct another sanitary landfill this 2018.
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. dumps unsegregated waste at the existing landfill.
Familiaran had earlier said the city government has allocated PHP20 million for the expansion of the sanitary landfill with the construction of a second cell.
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. (PNA)
