DENR tells LGUs: Pass local ordinances to oblige barangays segregate wastes

DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda. (File photo by HENZBERG AUSTRIA / Senate Public Information and Relations Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has urged local government units (LGUs) to pass ordinances that would direct barangays (villages) in implementing waste segregation.

DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda, of the Solid Waste Management and LGUs Concerns, said in a statement on Tuesday that cities and municipalities in the country have ordinances on waste segregation that should be implemented at the very source — barangay level — for “effective collection and disposal of solid waste.”

“Propose to your local council to create an ordinance that will act on those who do not practice segregation in their barangays,” Antiporda said.

The DENR official also echoed the call for efficient and effective handling of solid waste.

“It is already stated in RA [Republic Act] 9003 [Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000], but let us strengthen it with the help of your council,” he added.

He also recommended having inter-barangay “environmental marshals” in every barangay within a city/municipality to monitor solid waste management practices in neighboring barangays.

Meanwhile, according to the data of the Provincial Government – Environment and Natural Resources Office of Cavite, 58.78 percent of the waste generated in the province is biodegradable, while 28.19 percent are residual wastes.

Antiporda encouraged Cavite LGU to allocate funds for the collection of biodegradable and residual wastes.

Antiporda also said that the DENR is committed to provide technical and financial assistance to the LGUs concerning their solid waste management programs for the implementation of solid waste management nationwide. Liezelle Soriano Roy, INQUIRER.net trainee

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