COTABATO CITY, Philippines – Local government officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) who do not implement the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act face charges, an official said yesterday.
Hadji Kahal Kedtag, regional secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-ARMM, said he would seek the support of religious leaders and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) to remind local government units (LGUs) to enforce Republic Act 9003.
“We are appealing to LGUs in the region to abide by RA 9003. We will initiate punitive action against recalcitrant LGUs,” Kedtag said.
Some LGUs in the ARMM do not have solid waste management programs, reports reaching Kedtag’s office showed.
LGUs were earlier told to submit a 10-year program not later than Nov. 30.
“Waste mismanagement has serious environmental effects… The department can provide technical assistance to LGUs in the formulation and implementation of their programs,”said Kedtag.