DENR-EMB vows to monitor compliance of LGUs to solid waste management plans.
THE Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will monitor the implementation of the solid waste management plans of local government units (LGUs).
The move is in compliance with Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
“Solid waste management remains the top priority of the DENR. Amidst the ongoing pandemic, we will be vigorously overseeing the solid waste management compliance of LGUs, leveraging on our people and technology,” said DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.
“Our work goes beyond approving the 10-year solid waste management plans of LGUs. We aim to see the effective enforcement of these plans and ultimately ensure a clean and healthy environment,” DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and LGUs Concerns Benny D. Antiporda added.
For his part, DENR-EMB DirectorWilliam P. Cunado said that the EMB will closely monitor the various solid waste management strategies of the LGUs committed in their 10-year solid waste management plans.
“We will strictly monitor the commitments of the LGUs with the primary emphasis on their waste avoidance, waste recovery, composting and recycling as well as the management of the COVID-19 related wastes, their proper treatment and proper disposal in the sanitary landfills,” said Cuñado.
The submission of a 10-year solid waste management plan is a mandate given to LGUs by virtue of RA 9003 for the efficient management of solid wastes.
A total of 1,171 solid waste management plans have been approved as of December 7, 2021 and are now being implemented.
Meanwhile Cuñado bared that the EMB will improve its Integrated Information System or IIS where real-time reporting of data, statistics, and inspection reports will be uploaded in the system for faster actions.
He added: “We will strictly monitor the environmental compliance of the 245 operational sanitary landfills servicing 478 LGUs in the country and we will implement programs to help expand the number of sanitary landfills where our LGUs can properly dispose their wastes in a healthy and environmentally-sound manner.”
Tags: #denr, #solidwastes, #SWM, #LGUs