Clenro exec sounds alarm bells over poor hospital trash disposal

BIOMEDICAL wastes of hospitals in the city are not being properly monitored and segregated, posing so much health risks, a representative of the City Local Environment Natural Resources Office revealed during a joint meeting of the committee on health and finance on Friday.

Elvisa Mabilin, a Clenro representative, told councilors that the wastes from hospitals are being mixed with domestic trash even with the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Law.

“Wala kita’y regulatory function nga mahimo. There is difficulty in the monitoring and implementation even by the Environmental Monitoring Bureau-Department of Environment and Natural Resources,” Mabilin said.

She said when the biomedical wastes are still in the hospital, the regulation task is with the health department, but as soon as such garbage is out of the hospital premises, the regulation becomes the responsibility of the EMB.

Mabilin pointed out that city hall has no clear regulatory function in monitoring the implementation of the waste segregation law on local hospitals.

She said the Clenro can only monitor establishments with city hall issued business permits.

City council committee on finance chair Edna Dahino expressed alarm over the oversight.

“I’m so sad nga lugar wala’y nahimo ang syudad about ani nga problem. Unsaon nato pag-protect atong mga tawo dinhi? This is very dangerous. Check with the DOH if we have the power (to oversee),” Dahino said.

Councilor George Goking said no less than the city hall-owned JR Borja General Hospital has also been disposing biomedical wastes like regular garbage.

“I am not saying nga sayop ang gihimo sa hospital but kinahanglan nga atimanon kini,” said Goking, adding that hospital garbage need to be properly disposed.

Goking said he was worried that biomedical wastes were even finding their way into the drainage system.

Dahino meanwhile expressed fear for the garbage collectors, pointing out the need for them to be be better equipped with protective masks and gloves in handling biomedical wastes.

“(They) should also be protected. This is very crucial nga ma-addressed kini sa Clenro. Makapatay kini og makatakud kini nga mga waste-borne diseases,” Dahino said. (lito rulona)