The search for
sanitary landfill sites

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor PATRICK PANGILINAN Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

Compliance with the provisions set by Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, to establish a sanitary landfill disposal facility in all local government units in Negros Oriental still has much to be desired.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources Environment and Management Bureau has reported that only 360 out of 1,634 LGUs nationwide have adopted the Ecological Solid Waste Management program under RA 9003 despite so many deadlines provided by law since 2007. The National Solid Waste Management Commission had already issued two notices to erring LGUs that started implementing the policy in 2008 in an effort to discipline those who continue to violate the law. A fine of P500,000 is imposed on those LGUs who remain non-compliant after the three-strike policy for its continued violation.

In Negros Oriental, only three out of 25 LGUs have put up sanitary landfill disposal facilities that are operational, and four others already have their proposed sanitary landfill sites approved, and will soon put up their own facilities. The rest are still to do their best.

The bureau has assured the non-complying LGUs to provide assistance in identifying and assessing suitable site for their proposed sanitary landfill facility.

We appreciate the gesture of the environment management bureau for their continued assistance to the various LGUs and hope that, by year end, all will have their own facilities.

We have to help and cooperate with our officials in finding suitable places for our sanitary landfills as they are vital for the protection of our environment, and, most of all, our health and well-being.*