Barangay execs seek more time for waste segregation
Barangay captains in Iloilo City have asked for an extension of time within which they could comply with the provision of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 on waste segregation.
The different ABC presidents in the city met Monday and decided to write environmental lawyer Atty. Antonio Oposa to give them ample time in setting up a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in barangays where the facility is still unavailable.
Oposa pioneered the practice of Environmental Law in the Philippines. He is an awardee in the prestigious award giving body, The Outstanding Young Man of the Philippines Award and U.N. Environmental Programme (UNEP) Global 500 Roll of Honor, the highest United Nations environmental award.
The decision of the barangay captains was reached after Oposa requested Mayor Jerry Treñas to provide him a list of barangays in the city that has no MRF yet even if it is required by Republic Act 9003.
The same decision asking for adequate time in setting up of an MRF was concurred by Liga ng mga Barangay President Irene Ong. The establishment of a material recovery facility in every barangay has long been ordered by the chief executive to 180 punong barangays.
The letter asking for reconsideration was drafted by City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) Engr. Noel Hechanova. It was not immediately known how much time the barangay captains are asking.
It was learned the punong barangays feared of possible repercussions from the environmental lawyer for their failure in complying with the provisions of the law particularly in the waste segregation aspect.
In his letter to the mayor, Oposa stressed “we are embarking on massive campaign to enforce environmental laws in the country particularly the solid waste management law – a fundamental indicator of the civilization and discipline – an element of nation-building.”
Treñas, on the other hand, said City Legal Office head Atty. Edgar Gil will ask Oposa to give the city government some time to validate the solid waste management practices in the different barangays.
While, Hechanova and Office of Public Services chief Engr. Raul Gallo will assess the barangays’ compliance to proper solid waste management.
Earlier, the mayor handed two executive orders to the village chiefs in the mandatory solid waste diversion and segregation, establishment of material recovery facility and prohibiting the indiscriminate throwing of garbage and burning.