Build sanitary landfill, EMB tells Tacloban

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in Eastern Visayas has asked the city government to construct its own sanitary landfill as mandated by law or face possible sanctions.

While the cities of Ormoc, Calbayog and Maasin have their own sanitary landfills, Tacloban has yet to set up its own, according to Maribel Munsayac, EMB solid waste management regional coordinator.

“Tacloban is really behind in so far as having its own sanitary landfill though it has its own composting facility,” Munsayac said, referring to the city’s controlled dump.

Under Republic Act No. 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of the Philippines, all local government units are mandated to put up their sanitary landfills and to shut down their existing dump sites.

“We have written them several times, but they kept on saying that they will construct their own sanitary landfill,” Munsayac said.

Sanitary landfill, as defined by law, refers to a waste disposal site designed, constructed, operated and maintained in a manner that exerts engineering control over significant potential environment impacts arising from the development and operation of the facility.

Munsayac said the construction of a sanitary landfill would require between P30 million and P50 million. Joey A. Gabieta, Inquirer Visayas