By Marita Moaje | Philippine News Agency
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday called for an overhaul of the country’s 25-year-old solid waste management law, saying outdated policies have left the Philippines struggling with its garbage problem despite government efforts.
In his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Marcos Jr. urged Congress to update the law to support modern waste management technologies and strengthen the country’s response to growing environmental challenges.
The President said waste disposal remains a major concern that requires changes in both policy and public behavior amid efforts in cleaning waterways and rivers of garbage.
President Marcos Jr. said, emphasizing the law should be updated to reflect current technologies and practices, “Sa kabila ng mga ginagawa nating ito, kailangan pa rin nating iwasto ang ating pamamaraan sa pagtapon ng basura.
One systemic intervention is to update our 25-year-old Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, aligning it with modern waste management practices, such as waste-to-energy and waste treatment technology.”
He said the proposed changes would help local government units strengthen garbage collection and disposal while creating opportunities to recover value from waste.
The President cited the solid waste management practices being implemented by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), including waste recovery, processing and upcycling.
The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, or Republic Act No. 9003, is a landmark law that mandates waste segregation at the source, promoting recycling and composting, and prohibiting open dumping.
Marcos Jr. also cited the MMDA Nature Park in Cavite, the former Carmona Sanitary Landfill in the 1990s, “More than a multi-purpose green space, it shall soon be the base of its (MMDA) high-level disaster preparedness training and simulation exercises.” (PNA)
