Group urges Erap to enforce environmental laws

Carmen Planas Street in Divisoria, Manila, is littered with mostly styrofoam materials. PHOTO COURTESY OF ECOWASTE COALITION

An environmental group on Sunday called on Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada to actively enforce city ordinances concerning the environment and suggested that he change the city’s approach to environmental issues.

The EcoWaste Coalition made the appeal after Estrada urged Manila’s 1.8 million residents to reduce the trash that they produce.

“Relevant city ordinances already exist and should be actively enforced.  And good practices in ecological solid waste management at various levels and settings, we believe, are on hand waiting to be recognized, supported and replicated,” Aileen Lucero of EcoWaste Coalition said in a statement.

“If holistically and seriously implemented with nonstop public information and education, the planned system can help a lot in preventing and reducing garbage, while creating waste-related jobs and enterprises,” Lucero said.

According to Lucero, more than 2,000 tons of garbage were collected every day along Manila’s streets and drains and waterways, quoting a report of the city’s Department of Public Services.

EcoWaste also said that despite the campaign of Manila to lessen the garbage produced, Estrada’s appeal “seems to fall on deaf ears”

“Despite putting up the signage ‘kung hindi mo kayang linisin ang kapaligiran, huwag mo na lang dumihan’ all over the city, Manila continues to be plagued by litter and trash,” Lucero said.

“Perhaps it’s high time for the city government to try a different tack in order to clean up the capital city,” she added. /cbb