City to submit list of non-compliant barangays after May 15
BACOLOD CITY -- Acting City Legal Officer Atty. Vicente Petirre III asked for another few days to submit the list of non-compliant barangays in line with the campaign of the city on Solid Waste Management.
Petierre said, the implementation of “No Segregation, No Collection” in the city only started last April 27 that’s why it is proper to give time and chance also to other barangays which have not yet fully complied with the policy.
On May 4, 2009, Antonio Oposa Jr. of the Global Legal Action Team against Climate Change has requested the Bacolod City government to furnish his office with the names of the barangays that refuse to cooperate with the solid waste management program of the city, as well as, the names of their barangay captains.
Oposa, a founding member of the GLACC, said they have received information that some barangays in Bacolod fail or refuse to cooperate with the city’s program to seriously implement the Solid Waste Management Law.
In particular, the provision on the mandatory separation of wastes at source has been largely ignored and unimplemented, he said.
Oposa asked to be furnished the list of non-compliant barangays and their barangay captains within 24 hours from receipt of the letter and also requested the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Board to assist the city in the preparation of the list.
“Together with hundreds of lawyers around the country and thousands around the world, they will be launching a no-nonsense campaign to enforce this basic law, among others,” he added.
He said it is not only a basic service of local governments, it is also the most fundamental form of environmental discipline and responsibility – an essential element of nation-building.
Councilor Greg Gasataya, chairman of the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Environment and Ecology said that during a meeting, Oposa clarified that he also sent a similar letter to all local governments in the province concerning the implementation of the SWM program.
He said Oposa was also in Bacolod last year to conduct a seminar on SWM involving all the barangay captains.
On the other hand, Acting Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson said Oposa is very happy with the efforts being implemented by the city especially regarding its “No Segregation, No Collection” policy.