Environmentalists urge gov’t agencies to really enforce law

CEBU, Philippines - As the 14th anniversary of the signing of Republic Act 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, is observed today, environmental leaders urged local and national government agencies to implement the law faithfully.

Environmentalists Von Hernandez, outgoing president of Ecowaste Coalition and Sonia Mendoza, the organization’s incoming president, in a statement urged concerned citizens to take tough action against non-conforming local government units and national government agencies if only to rouse officials who are sleeping on the job and compel them into enforcing the law.

Hernandez cited three things to hasten the enforcement of the waste law, which seeks to conserve resources, curb pollution, including the emission of greenhouse gases, and protect public health, climate and environment.

Hernandez said that after more than a decade, responsible government units should stop making excuses, including pushing the use of incinerators, as if this will solve the perennial problem with trash.

Mendoza, for her part, called for an intensive public information, education and communication activities to popularize Zero Waste values and practices, from decentralized waste management down to the barangay level and for legal action to put R.A. 9003 in force.

Section 52 of the said law stated that any citizen may file an appropriate civil, criminal or administrative action in the proper courts/bodies against any public officer who willfully or grossly neglects the performance of an act specifically enjoined as a duty by the law.

Section 52 likewise allows the filing of citizen suits against the Department of Environment and Natural Resources or other implementing agencies with respect to orders, rules and regulations issued inconsistent with R.A. 9003.

R.A. 9003 was enacted by the 11th Congress in December 2000. (FREEMAN)