The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has reminded newly-elected barangay officials to promote proper solid waste management, to address the issue of flooding during the rainy season.
“Be advocates for the environment. Protection of the environment and proper solid waste management practices should start in our barangays in order to prevent clogging of drainage systems which may lead to flooding,” DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said in a statement on Tuesday.
DILG released a memorandum circular in line with R.A. 9003 or the Ecological and Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, tasking barangay officials to reorganize its Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Committee (BESWMC).
This committee, according to the department, will help formulate a waste program consistent with the municipal or city plan.
“Ilang beses na po tayong nilulunod sa baha at kadalasang dahilan ay walang matinong daluyan ng tubig kasi nababarahan ng ating mga basura,” Año said.
“We should have prevented this through proper solid waste management, it’s not too late,” he added.
Just recently, different local government units in Metro Manila and its neighboring provinces were subjected to flooding caused by heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon.
To prevent these scenarios from happening again, Año said the BESWMC should play an active role in the ecological solid waste management (ESWM).
“BESWMC is instrumental in carrying out ESWM initiatives in the barangays. In fact they are expected to conduct trainings in barangays on topics such as segregation, composting, recycling and livelihood opportunities,” he said.
Año said the committee’s responsibilities primarily includes the creation of material recovery facilities, allocation of funds for waste management programs, and the integration of projects to the barangay development plan and annual investment plan.
He also noted that the BESWMC should consist of the barangay chairman as the chairperson, and other representatives such as one Sangguniang Barangay member, the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson, leaders of homeowners associations, principals, and representatives of parents and teachers associations in the area.
The committee can also accommodate representatives from religious organizations, transport groups, environmental non-government organizations, junk shop’s owners and market vendors’ associations within the community. /muf