Cebu City barangays to start waste management

CEBU, Philippines - Twenty barangays in Cebu City will be given P20,000 each for them to start implementing Solid Waste Management programs, especially in promoting waste segregation, reduction, recycling and composting.

Also last Friday, the council passed a resolution releasing P4 million from the calamity fund to install materials recovery facilities in 53 barangays to complement the SWM project.

Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairman of the committee on environment, filed a resolution last Friday authorizing Mayor Michael Rama to enter into an agreement with the barangays of Adlawon, Bacayan, Camputhaw, Ermita, Mabolo, Pit-os, Pulang-bato, San Jose, Sto. Niño, Tinago, Basak Pardo, Buhisan, Calamba, Kinasang-an, Poblacion Pardo, Pahina San Nicloas, Punta Princesa, Quiot, Sapangdaku and Tisa.

The city provided the assistance in recognition to the barangays’ role in solid waste management efforts.

Republic Act 9003 or the Solid waste Management Act of 2000 provides that segregation shall be primarily conducted at the source including the households as well as institutional, industrial, commercial and agricultural sources.

Under the proposed agreement with the 20 barangays who will receive the P20,000 assistance, the barangay officials shall make sure that by the end of this year, the solid waste management committee is in place and actively functioning in managing the SWM programs. The committee shall submit reports to the SWM Board.

“In the implementation of SWM programs, barangays shall showcase their SWM components such as MRF, composting sites, segregation areas or receptacles, nursery and garden areas among others as output for the project,” the MOA further reads.

As another environment effort from the city, meanwhile, the committee on public safety headed by Councilor Augustus Pe, Jr. will require all police stations and special units to send their personnel to undergo a training seminar on National Environment Laws and Local Ordinances, for their effective enforcement of the violations.

The committee believes that the police must not only focus on crimes but also on other illegal activities that seek to destroy the natural environment of the city. (THE FREEMAN)