The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said it will press charges against mayors and village captains who failed to implement proper waste management in their respective areas.
“Dapat kasuhan na natin ang mga barangay captain at mga mayor na hindi nagpapatupad ng RA 9003 (We should sue these barangay captains and mayors who do not implement RA No. 9003),” DILG Undersecretary Martin Diño told RadyoINQUIRER on Friday, November 30.
“Kaya itong month na ‘to, hinihintay ko na lang ‘yung report dahil mag-uumpisa na kami na magdemanda sa mga captain (That is why in this month, I’m just awaiting for the report because we will start suing village captains),” he added.
Under Republic Act (RA) No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, mayors and village officials are mandated to create a materials recovery facility in their localities and must conduct proper segregation and collection of trashes specifically for biodegradable, compostable, and reusable wastes.
Diño said local executives who will not comply with the law will face charges for negligence of duty and might be suspended or removed from office.
“Naghahanda na kami, we will make sure na mayroong mananagot na kapitan at saka mga mayors. Dapat siguro parusahan ‘yung mga barangay na hindi magpapatupad ng materials recovery facilities. ‘Yun ang isa sa mga mandato ng mga barangay (We are already preparing, we will make sure that there will be captains and mayors who will be held liable. Those villages which do not have materials recovery facilities should be punished. That is one of their mandates),” the DILG official said.
“Kapag hindi niyo ginawa, nandito naman kami para patawan ng parusa kung sino ‘yung mga talagang ayaw gumawa nitong mga naka-atang sa kanilang trabaho (If you do not do this, we are here to penalize those who do not want to comply with their jobs),” he continued.
Diño’s statement came after DILG Secretary Eduardo Año last August urged barangay officials to implement and enforce appropriate measures on proper solid waste management to prevent flooding in their areas.
“Be advocates for the environment. Protection of the environment and proper solid waste management practices should start in our barangays in order to prevent clogging of drainage systems which may lead to flooding,” Año earlier said.
DILG also released a memorandum circular in accordance with R.A. 9003, directing village officials to reorganize its Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Committee (BESWMC).
The responsibilities of the committee, Año said, include the creation of a Material Recovery Facility (MRF) within the barangay, allocation of barangay funds for the ecological solid waste management (EWSM) programs, and the integration of the ESWM program in the barangay development plan and annual investment plan.
“BESWMC is instrumental in carrying out ESWM initiatives in the barangays. In fact, they are expected to conduct trainings in barangays on topics such as segregation, composting, recycling and livelihood opportunities,” the DILG chief noted.