BARANGAY officials should monitor and mobilize households into cleaning up their surroundings in compliance with existing ordinances and national laws on solid waste management, a minority councilor said on Wednesday.
“We have existing laws like Republic Act No. 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act and as a former barangay captain, I saw the need for waste management (monitoring boards on the barangay level). But there should be a law that will obligate them to ensure sanitation in their areas,” said Councilor Christian Achas during the program ‘Ang Inyong Konseho Karon’ hosted by the City Information Office.
Councilor Achas referred to his proposed ordinance dubbed ‘Tugkaran Mo, Limpyohan Ko (My Place, My Responsibility to Clean) which he said. Is aimed at ensuring accountability and responsibility for sanitation at the grassroots level from both barangay officials and households.
He said the proposed ordinance mandates barangay officials to inspect their communities every third Saturday of the month.
Achas said under the proposed ordinance, the barangay captain will visit every household in his or her barangay to see if the families properly disposed of their garbage and cleaned their surroundings.
“If they fail to do this they will be penalized and the same goes to the households who refuse to clean their surroundings because they are already existing laws (for this purpose),” Achas said.
Achas cited his proposed ordinance during Monday afternoon’s regular session in response to a special report by fellow Councilor Roger Abaday on the city’s sanitary landfill.
Councilor Abaday said sanitation problems on waste segregation at the landfill site still persist even as City Hall strives to improve waste collection efforts in every barangay.
Achas said his proposed ordinance also covers commercial offices and businesses as it obligates them to clean their areas including the sidewalks and canals fronting their establishments.
“The spirit of the ordinance is to implement the existing laws on waste management...the problem is these laws are not implemented on the barangay and household level (so monitoring for compliance is important),” Achas said. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)
