Extension to close down all open dumpsites up
Environment Secretary Lito Atienza said he is giving the local executives six months to comply with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law or Republic Act 9003, following reports that there remain 826 open dumpsites in various parts of the country.
Atienza said the LGUs have already been given sufficient time to comply with RA 9003, which calls for the closure of all open dumpsites within three years after the effectivity of the law.
Section 1, rule 13 of the Law provides that within three years from effectivity of the law, all open dumpsites shall be converted to controlled dumpsites.
Controlled dumpsites are to be operated only within five years and beyond this period, the facilities shall be deemed closed and phased out.
The DENR records showed that there were 359 controlled dumpsites, nationwide, including four in metro manila.
Atienza said they have to fast track the conversion of all the dumpsites not only to protect the health of the people, but also in the face of global warming and climate change.
He assured the LGUs that the DENR through its regional officials shall be on hand to extend technical assistance not only to hasten closure and rehabilitation of their dumpsites but also to establish their materials recovery facilities as well as find potential sites for sanitary landfills.
In Iloilo, the Regional Ecological Center has been intensifying its Information, Education orientations among LGUs to fast track implementation of RA 9003, especially the dumpsites closure. (PIA 6)