Clenro extends full imposition of trash policy

By LITO RULONA
Correspondent .

The City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (Clenro) admitted that they had not fully implemented the “no segregation, no collection” policy for solid wastes after some residents are still unaware on the new policy.

Engr. Armen Cuenca, Clenro chief said they have to extend the implementation to at least 59 barangays in both urban and rural after they found out that some residents in the area were still un-informed of the new policy on garbage collection.

“If we strictly implement the new policy, we are on the 90 percent for the compliance of the implementation policy. Average karon sa wala mag-segregate is taas pa gihapon. Segregation will start at the household o sa panimalay mismo pero naa pa man gyud wala mosunod,” he said.  

He said the barangay units should be the lead agency for its implementation but still some have not fully informed their respective constituents on “no segregation, no collection” policy. The city government will only use as the support group but some of the barangay units have still no capacity for the policy implementation.

“Mo-informed gyud unta ang barangay sa mga tawo sa panimalay. Panimalay, business establishments, malls, and the industry are included in the implementation of the policy,” he added.

He said the 46 barangays are pilot testing areas to study the system and evaluate possible improvements. The city has 80 barangays. Pilot villages consisted of 40 downtown barangays and six villages that have large land areas and population.

The “no segregation, no collection” policy is mandated by City Ordinance No. 13378-2018, or the “Integrated Eco-biological Solid Waste Management Ordinance.” The same ordinance regulates the use of single-use plastic bags that penalizes violators with up to P3,000.

Cuenca said by 2020, they are targeting that all barangays would be compliant,” adding the local government will embark on information dissemination within the first six months of the year.

He said Clenro barangay coordinators were assigned to at least 8 barangays covered and now reduced to four barangays to fully informed the residents on the policy implementation.

“I am reminding the residents that collection is limited only to residual wastes; those that are biodegradable and recyclable materials will remain at source or at the household itself,” he pointed out.