BAGUIO CITY – Barangays should at all times implement and comply with laws on solid waste management or face sanctions.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong issued this warning after chancing upon piles of garbage dumped at an unauthorized area along a Diego Silang St., a busy road at the central business district.
The General Services Office under Eugene Buyucan immediately collected the wastes and called out the barangay captain of Harrison-Carantes who has jurisdiction over the area.
A notice was issued to the barangay for violation of the Environment Code of the City of Baguio and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or Republic Act 9003 particularly for dumping waste in public places, dumping outside the designated collection point and beyond the collection schedule.
“In line with our continuing quest for a cleaner City of Baguio, please ensure that all pertinent laws and legislations on Solid Waste Management are strictly implemented in your barangays,” the notice reads.
“Persistent violators will be dealt with accordingly,” it adds.
Buyucan earlier also encouraged barangays to manage their own biodegradable wastes through segregation and home and backyard composting also mandated under the said laws.
He said his office provides assistance to barangays in setting up their own composting materials and in providing drums.
He said residents should practice composting and urban gardening in their homes because it does not only help reduce the volume of both biodegradable and non-biodegradable wastes but is also beneficial for the homes.
He said a simple composting method would only require any container, big or medium-sized and can be plastic, wood or cement where biodegradable wastes can be stored.
“Just cover the refuse with small amount of soil for drying and repeat the process. The compost can be used in one to two months for their backyard garden. Other methods such as the use of African night crawlers may also be done,” Buyucan said./Aileen P. Refuerzo