May 06, 2009 06:49 PM Wednesday [ journal.com.ph ]
By: Cory Martinez
THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources kicked off yesterday its massive information campaign in Baguio City on the proper waste management in order to help the local government units in solving their garbage problem.
The activity dubbed as “Interconnectivity Caravan: Strengthening and Empowering LMP Provincial Chapters through Health Fourmula 1-Zero Basura Caravan,” was highlighted by the signing of a manifesto of commitment by members of the League of Municipalities of Cordillera Administrative Region, Mayors Development Center, Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines, Presidential Management Staff , the Department of Health and DENR.
DENR Secretary Lito Atienza said that the event aims to awaken all Filipinos on their individual and collective responsibilities on proper waste management pursuant to Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Atienza added that the info-caravan is very timely considering the low compliance of local government units to the provisions of RA 9003 and urgency of climate change.
“I cannot overemphasize the significance and timeliness of the information caravan. Our advocacy and strategy on the 3-strike policy and the Zero Basura Program will be explained to the LGUs in a more intimate setting to get their commitment and full support in the implementation of RA 9003,” Atienza said.
Those who participated in the event were the local executives, officers of the league of municipalities provincial chapters and their staff and environment officers of LGUs.
Atienza added that the info caravan is also a venue in strengthening the LGU-DENR partnership in sustaining the gains and addressing the challenges of the local government on solid waste management.
“The climate change is an urgent issue and the earlier people realize the dangers of this phenomenon the better. This can only be done with the help of the local government units whose role in reducing garbage nationwide is very critical. We have to mobilize our people into action to lessen the impact of climate change and we can only do this if our local government units are well informed and are one with us,” Atienza said.
The DENR chief explained that the biggest contributor to global warming and climate change is the garbage openly dumped because it emits methane which is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide or any other pollutants.
Despite the 2006 February deadline to convert open dumpsites into controlled facilities, the country still has 673 open dumpsites and 263 controlled disposal facilities and a 25 sanitary landfills.
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