DepEd: Teach solid waste management in schools

MANILA, Philippines —  Amid the “critical” garbage problem in the country, Education Secretary Sonny Angara is advocating the teaching of solid waste management in schools.

In an interview last Wednesday, Angara said reports about the massive garbage found floating in the waters of Manila Bay, particularly in Baclaran, Parañaque, shows the need to include teaching students about Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

“We have a law on solid waste management. I said that it would be good if we fully teach it in our schools nationwide so that they would know that if they throw a plastic in the sea, it will not just go away. It will pile up over the years. I think it is a product of many years of throwing trash (in the water),” he said.

President Marcos described the garbage problem as critical, which contributed to the flooding in parts of Metro Manila and nearby areas hit by heavy rains caused by the southwest monsoon.

Meanwhile, Angara asked Malacañang to expand emergency labor support through the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers program to fast-track the cleanup of public schools affected by the recent enhanced southwest monsoon and Tropical Storm Maymay.

As of Aug. 11, recent severe weather from the enhanced southwest monsoon and Tropical Storm Maymay forced the suspension of classes in 9,096 public schools across eight regions, affecting over 6.9 million learners and 293,920 personnel.

Initial assessments indicate 3,348 classrooms suffered minor damage, requiring an estimated P27 million for cleanup and clearing operations alongside P161.6 million for minor repairs.

‘Garbage police’

A “separate but dedicated” government entity mandated only to address the perennial garbage problem in Metro Manila should be formed by the 16 city mayors comprising Metro Manila, a lawmaker suggested yesterday.

Las Piñas Rep. Mark Anthony Santos said local government units in cities and one municipality in Metro Manila should establish and deputize a “garbage police” to strictly enforce anti-littering and waste disposal regulations and apprehend violators within their respective jurisdictions.

Palace called out

Environmental groups have called out President Marcos for allegedly downplaying the garbage pile-up in Parañaque amid monsoon rains.

“While Malacañang in its latest pronouncement fixates on ‘waste-to-energy’ as a silver bullet and scolds the public for littering, it is willfully ignoring the root of this catastrophe: the relentless, unchecked flood of single-use plastics – sachets, styrofoam and plastic bags – being pumped into our economy by major corporations,” Von Hernandez, vice president of Oceana Philippines said.

BAN Toxics said such statements risk shifting the burden of a systemic problem onto the public while failing to address the government’s responsibility to fully implement the country’s solid waste management laws.

“We recognize that proper waste management requires the participation of every citizen. However, individual accountability cannot be used as an excuse for the government’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities. The government has the mandate, resources, and legal obligations to establish systems that make proper waste management possible and accessible,” Thony Dizon, advocacy and campaign officer of BAN Toxics, said.  – Delon Porcalla, Josiah Antonio