Loren dismayed by Rodriguez landfill row
Cites shared responsibility of LGUs in waste management

Senator Loren Legarda reminded yesterday local government units (LGUs) of their shared responsibility in ensuring the proper management of wastes under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (Republic Act No. 9003), which she authored during the 12th Congress.

Loren issued the statement in dismay over the widening rift between the municipality of Rodriguez and the provincial government of Rizal over the issue, saying it may exacerbate the garbage problem facing Metro Manila.

In response to the clamor by the contractor of the Rodriguez landfills for the Senate to step into the matter, Loren stressed that any congressional probe should focus on whether the provisions of RA 9003 are being strictly followed.

The contractor has alleged that the earnings generated through the years by the original dumpsite in Rodriguez has been misused.

"The garbage issue transcends money as it imperils the environment and the health of our people. Just the same, the Senate is ready to hear any allegation of funds misuse, if there is any" she said.

Loren said contending local government officials in Rodriguez and Rizal have a shared responsibility in promoting proper solid waste management.

She cited paragraph "G" Section 2, Article I of RA 9003 which states that the primary responsibility in solid waste management remains with local LGUs, in cooperation with the national government, other LGUs, non-government organizations and the private sector.

Last August, Loren backed an initiative by the Ombudsman and a non-profit foundation to regularly check if government agencies and LGUs are fully implementing the country's environmental laws.

Loren said that the environmental compliance audit to be conducted by the Ombudsman should spur LGUs and other government agencies to do their share in protecting the environment.

She lamented then that seven years since the passage of RA 9003, the provisions of the law are largely being ignored by many government officials.

The founder and chair of the environmental organization Luntiang Pilipinas, Loren immediately filed a solid waste management bill upon her election to the Senate in 1998, but it took the Payatas dumpsite tragedy to convince Congress to pass it into law seven years ago.

RA 9003 calls for the utilization of environmentally-sound methods to maximize utilization of resources and reduce production of garbage. It encourages waste volume reduction through garbage minimization measures, including composting, recycling, re-use and recovery.

Likewise, it mandates treatment and disposal in appropriate and environmentally sound solid waste management facilities of wastes. It sets as state policy the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of wastes.

Loren said that even if only one-third of the garbage generated in Metro Manila are dumped in the sanitary landfill in Rodriguez, that is not a reason not to resolve the Rodriguez issue as soon as possible.