Waste management

Ian Alfredo Magno

IT couldn’t be simpler than this:  The recent flooding in Cagayan de Oro exposed the city’s lack of appropriate drainage facilities.

Of course, an abundance of reasons could be easily factored in such as the obviously too much amount of rainwater, which apparently fell during a high tide along Macajalar Bay.  Distinctly though, one element that caused severe clogging in the constricted waterways was the usual suspect: garbage.

Traversing a portion of Claro M. Recto Avenue where an estero is visibly exposed, one would need no binoculars to instantly distinguish the occurrence and stench of urban waste.  Such bare filth, which is home to countless bacteria, categorically serves as a conduit of a multitude of diseases.  This was among the primary considerations of Datu Masiding M. Alonto Jr., Philhealth vice president for Northern Mindanao and concurrent area vice president for Mindanao, when he initiated to adopt “Philhealth Go Green” as Philhealth’s flagship theme this February, the corporate anniversary month.  Hence “Philhealth Go Green,” as a theme and as a tree growing/re-greening concept, is premised on and in conjunction with efficient waste management.

At first glance, irresponsible dumping of trash could easily be attributed to the lack of discipline among residents in the spot. In the larger scale, however, it undeniably exposes the locality’s lack of efficient garbage collection and waste disposal scheme.

Republic Act 9003, otherwise known as the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000,” has mandated the local governments to play a primary role in solid waste management, thus:

“Section 10. Role of LGUs in Solid Waste Management – Pursuant to the relevant provisions of R.A. No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local government code, the LGUs shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this Act within their respective jurisdictions.

“Segregation and collection of solid waste shall be conducted at the barangay level specifically for biodegradable, compostable and reusable wastes: Provided, that the collection of nonecyclable materials and special wastes shall be the responsibility of the municipality or city.”

Moreover, Section 12 explicitly spells out the specific duties, responsibilities and functions of the city vis-à-vis its mandate to implement local waste management:

“Section 12. City and Municipal Solid Waste Management Board –

“… The City and Municipal Solid Waste Management Boards shall have the following duties and responsibilities:

“(1) Develop the City or Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan that shall ensure the long-term management of solid waste, as well as integrate the various solid waste management plans and strategies of the barangays in its area of jurisdiction.  In the development of the Solid Waste Management Plan, it shall conduct consultations with the various sectors of the community;

“(2) Adopt measures to promote and ensure the viability and effective implementation of solid waste management programs in its component barangays;

“(3) Monitor the implementation of the City or Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan through its various political subdivisions and in cooperation with the private sector and the NGOs;

“(4) Adopt specific revenue-generating measures to promote the viability of its Solid Waste Management Plan;

“(8) … Develop the specific mechanics and guidelines for the implementation of the City or Municipal Solid Waste Management Plan;

“(9) Recommended to appropriate local government authorities specific measures or proposals for franchise or build-operate-transfer agreements with duly recognized institutions, pursuant to R.A.6957, to provide either exclusive or non-exclusive authority for the collection, transfer, storage, processing, recycling or disposal of municipal solid waste.  The proposals shall take into consideration appropriate government rules and regulations on contracts, franchise and build-operate-transfer agreements;

“(11) … Recommended measures and safeguards against pollution and for the preservation of the natural ecosystem; and

“(12) Coordinate the efforts of its component barangays in the implementation of the city or municipal Solid Waste Management Plan.”

The keyword in these provisions is “plan.”  To promote the viability of the plan, barangays must be involved, consulted, equipped and, if possible, incentivized. The framework is based upon basic segregation and collection.  Bio-degradable and reusable wastes are composted or recycled at the barangay level while nonecyclable and special wastes are to be collected by the city.

In a nutshell, efficient waste management entails efficient collection in the first place. Therefore, collection must be perennial, consistent and prompt, to prevent waste decomposition from further harming the environs. Needless to say, it must reach every neighborhood in every barangay.

As resident taxpayers who get exposed to the health and ecological hazards of urban waste, we each have a stake in ensuring that the City’s Waste Management Plan as mandated in RA 9003 is indeed prepared, crafted, implemented, monitored and sustained.

(Ian Alfredo T. Magno is a Cagayan de Oro-based lawyer. E-mail: ianlafredom@gmail.com)