- CHERYL G. CRUZ
The 61 barangays of Bacolod City are urged to join in the global effort to beat plastic pollution through the strict segregation and collection at source, and the sustained operation of materials recovery facilities (MRFs) at the barangay level.
The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod recently passed a resolution, authored by Councilor Kalaw Puentevella, who said that ongoing de-clogging and dredging activities at various waterways in the city revealed the accumulation of plastic wastes as a result of the indiscriminate throwing and dumping of plastic waste.
The barangay, being the frontline of the government, is required under Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, to develop an ecological solid waste management program, promote waste segregation, implement a segregated collection for biodegradable and non-biodegradable discards, and set up MRFs, Puentevella, chairperson of the SP committees on Health and Sanitation, and of Environment and Ecology, said in his resolution.
He said the Philippines is considered the third-largest contributor of plastic wastes worldwide, and of an estimated 0.75 million metric tons of ocean plastic every year.
“Dubbed as the ‘sachet economy’, the Philippines is notorious for irresponsible trash haulers and open dump sites that cause the plastic to spill into the seas,” the resolution said, citing a World Bank study.
Puentevella stressed the need for the barangays, in coordination with the Department of Public Services, “to join in the global effort to beat plastic pollution by taking action to recover all recyclable plastic wastes back to our circular economy by way of implementing strict segregation and collection at source…”/CGC
