BONTOC, Mountain Province – While the municipality had been implementing the “Oplan Pera sa Basura” in the past years, the Sangguniang Bayan passed an ordinance for the institutionalization of the said program.
The Oplan Pera sa Basura aims to effectively reduce the volume of garbage in Bontoc, instill proper waste management to the school children, and promote cooperation among school children towards a common goal which is to reduce waste in their own schools and the municipality.
Ordinance No. 347, S. 2021 known as the “Oplan Pera sa Basura Ordinance” sponsored by SB Member Alsannyster Patingan states that the Local Government Unit (LGU) thru the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office shall implement the said program and it shall be available to all schools in the municipality.
SB member Patingan proposed the ordinance recognizing that the program was successful in the reduction and management of waste and as additional funds for the participating schools. Also, this is to ensure the continuity of the Oplan Pera sa Basura Program despite future changes in the administration.
Recognizing the importance of proper waste management, Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey immediately approved the ordinance.
“Proper waste management is essential in maintaining a livable and sustainable environment. Thus, this program would help not only the participating schools but also the municipality as a whole,” the mayor remarked.
The MENRO as the implementing office shall come up with operational guidelines for the program and coordinate with registered junk shop operators to purchase the collected recyclable materials directly from the participating schools.
Further, the LGU shall provide a cash prize for ₱12,000.00, ₱9,000.00, ₱7,000.00 for the first, second, and third prize respectively.
Also, an amount of ₱5,000.00 shall be given as a participatory prize to each participant that was able to collect the minimum weight of recyclable waste provided in the operational guidelines.
Likewise, the ordinance gives authority to the Local Chief Executive (LCE) to increase, but not to decrease the prizes and incentives through an Executive Order.
Aside from the provision of cash prizes, the Bontoc LGU shall take responsibility for coordinating with the registered junk shop operator to buy the recyclable materials directly from the participating schools after the recyclable wastes had been weighed and recorded. The proceeds of the sale of the collected recyclable materials shall be given to the participating school selling the same.
The Oplan Pera Sa Basura Ordinance of 2021 shall take effect in January 2022.
Republic Act No. 9003 referred to as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 provides the policy of the state in adopting a systematic, comprehensive, and ecological solid waste management program that ensures the protection of public health and the environment. By Christy Mae F. Che-es & Alpine L. Killa
