CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The provincial government is bent on forming Solid Waste Management Task Force as part of its effort to provide assistance for local government units in solving waste problems.
Thus said Board Member Nestor Tolentino, chairman of the Committee on Environment, as members of municipal and city solid waste management boards (SWMB) from different towns were convened to discuss probable solutions for the ballooning solid waste dilemma of the province.
According to Tolentino, the task force will determine the compliance of the municipalities and cities on Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Members of the SWMBs were also urged to develop their own Solid Waste Management Plan suited for their area while considering their geographical location, expected volume of solid waste, and available waste management facilities.
“After you formulate your solid waste management plan and establish a system that works for you, we, from the Capitol will augment by providing technical assistance and funding for your other needs,” said Tolentino.
To date, the Capitol has already provided financial assistance to Porac Municipal Material Recovery Facility for the construction of its multi-purpose covered area; baling machine for eight local government units, namely, Porac, Lubao, Guagua, Mexico, Sta. Ana, Apalit, Magalang, and Mabalacat City; garbage push carts for Guagua, Sta. Ana, Mabalacat City, and Porac; and waste bins for government offices within Capitol Compound and district hospitals.
Aside from this, Tolentino will propose a resolution requiring each municipality and city to have a permanent employee assigned as the point person for its solid waste management.
“The person in charge of solid waste management per LGU should be permanent to ensure the continuity of implemented programs. With this, we can hopefully solve our solid waste problems once and for all,” Tolentino added.
By Angelique Tuazon
