NSWC cites Baguio for compliance to solid waste law

BAGUIO CITY – The National Solid Waste Commission (NSWC) cited the city government of Baguio for exerting its aggressive efforts in complying with the provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Law to prevent the occurrence of a serious garbage problem that would significantly affect the status of the city as a preferred tourist destinations in the country.
Eligio T. Ildefonso, officer-in-charge – Executive Director of the NSWMC, said the timely submission of the city government’s revised 10-year solid waste management plan speaks well of the commitment of the local government to abide by the lawful provisions of the solid waste management law and effectively and efficiently address major concerns on the disposal of the generated waste in the city’s 128 barangays.
“May we inform your office that your 10-year SWM plan is currently being reviewed and evaluated prior to its presentation to the members of the technical working group and subsequent endorsement to the Commission for approval,” Ildefonso stated in his letter addressed to Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan.
The NSWMC official stated ‘we appreciate your commitment and value your adherence to the provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or RA 9003 and we are confident that through this concerted effort, we can facilitate execution of matters of mutual interest.”
It can be recalled that the city government transmitted to the NSWMC the revised 10-year solid waste management plan of the local government to achieve its compliance to the provisions of RA 9003 which has been a long standing problem of the city government.
One of the salient points of the revised 10-year city solid waste management plan is the put up of the city’s integrated solid waste management facility in barangay Sto. Tomas Central which has several components, including the put up of a limited engineered sanitary landfill, establishment of a waste-to-energy facility, incorporation of the operation of the operation of the two Environmental Recycling System (ERS) machines and put up of a hospital and medical waste facility.
Mayor Domogan welcomed the initial opinion of the NSWMC on the submitted 10-year revised solid waste management plan, saying that the city government remains committed to put to realization the establishment of the city’s integrated solid waste management facility that would result to the city government achieving substantial savings in the proper disposal of the generated waste from its barangays.
At present, the city government is spending at least P100 million annually for the hauling of its residual waste from the city to the Capas, Tarlac engineered sanitary landfill considering the absence of the city’s appropriate solid waste disposal facility.
Domogan explained once the local government will be able to stop the hauling of waste outside the city, the multi-million savings will be used to bankroll the implementation of more development projects in the different barangays and the enhancement of the delivery of basic services to the people thereby translating to better development opportunities for the city.
By Dexter A. See