City to implement solid waste management plan

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government will be implementing a long-term plan for an efficient management of solid wastes in the city.

The City Council has approved P60,000 for the formulation of a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan, which will be undertaken by the City Solid Waste Management Board.

The board is tasked to oversee the development and effective implementation of an environmentally-sound solid waste management plans and programs of the city.

The amount will be sourced out from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation Funds allocation.

The plan would establish the city’s goals and programs for a well-organized management of solid waste generated within the city, and the integration of various solid waste management plans and strategies of the city’s barangays, for a durable scheme.

This includes the guidelines and targets for source reduction and waste minimization measures such as composting, recycling, re-use, and resource recovery, among others prior to the collection, treatment and disposal using appropriate solid waste management facilities.

The board is expected to adopt a specific revenue-generating measure to promote the viability of the plan, but it needs to conduct consultations with the various sectors of the community.

However, this has to be in accordance with the principles of public health, economics, engineering, aesthetic and other environmental considerations.

This is in accordance with the provisions of City Ordinance No. 2031 or An Ordinance for the Implementation of Solid Waste Segregation at Source, and Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which mandates the local government units to protect, preserve and conserve ecosystem by adopting a “systematic, integrated and ecological solid waste management programs.” — (FREEMAN)