Quisumbing campaigns against open dumpsites

CEBU, Philippines - Rep. Luis Gabriel Quisumbing of the sixth district has endorsed a resolution which urges the House committee on ecology to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation on reports that there are still existing open dumpsites in the country even with the government’s full implementation of the R. A. 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and to formulate proactive and sustainable solution to the solid waste problem.

Quisumbing’s House resolution 1967 states that the existence of these open dumpsites in the various parts of the country is contrary to Section 37 of R. A. 9003.

Section 37 of R.A. 9003 states that “no open dumps shall be established and operated nor any practice or disposal of waste by any person, including LGUs.

R. A. 9003  was signed by former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in January 2006.

The provision also states that within three years of its effectivity, every local government unit should convert its open dumpsites into control dumps, in accordance with the guidelines set in Section 41 of the act.      Provided further is that no controlled dumps shall be allowed five years following effectivity of R. A. 9003.

However, in a news article of the Philippine Star dated September 6, 2011, it was learned from Environment Secretary Ramon Paje that there are still 435 local government units in the country which maintain open dumpsites.

Notices had been sent by the DENR against these 435 LGUs and that the Office of the Ombudsman has already issued a subpoenas for the closure and rehabilitation of all dumpsites in the country.

Quisumbing in his resolution further states that both LGUs and National  Waste Commission  should focus holistic waste prevention and adopt clean methods for addressing the residuals that will not release harmful environmental  pollutants.

“Whereas, it is imperative that the government sees to the strict implementation of the R. A. 9003 Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 and speedily address the issues concerning proper environment care and management,” the resolution states.  (FREEMAN)