It puzzles me no end that every time I walk that particular stretch in Agdao almost every day on my way to work, I get to encounter garbage of all types.
And once in a while, I can spot neighbors actually burning garbage (to include plastics) just as the sun rises from the east.
I had seen worse. The worst methinks was that of dump trucks unloading mixed wastes near the edge of a row of tombs along Lingayen Gulf. And as I stood nearby, the seawaters washed part of the heap of dump to the sea, revealing tombs covered by garbage.
In that side street in Agdao, the sight of a dead cat or rat is not uncommon. Animal dung abound. But the most common sights are empty plastic bottles or plastic bags filled with mixed garbage abandoned along the canals. Strangely, these disappear every time heavy rains pour, but these are replaced time and again probably by the same people who throw their garbage every which way it is convenient. Out of sight; out of mind.
What is preventing this city from implementing properly the mandate of Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management)?
I think the answer lies with the very people that are tasked to implement the law, the DENR as supervisory agency and the LGUs (the city or the municipality that are supposed to provide the means) and the barangays (who are supposed to implement segregation at source).
The system of waste management that RA 9003 mandates is simply beyond the text-book knowledge of DENR environment specialists. Hence, their interpretation of the law as in most cases is limited to concrete or engineering structures. Composting as one of best practices is beyond their understanding.
The same can be said of city or municipal executives whose expertise lay in various fields. But they can be convinced to implement it properly if their environment officers have what it takes to implement it or if they are capable of thinking out of the box in ensuring that the engineered sanitary landfill lives out its projected lifespan. If not, the ESL will always degenerate into an open dump as what has happened to the city’s ESL in New Carmen or elsewhere. And with the ESL turning into an open dump, the ability to control leachate is ineffective at best and paltry at worst. Water (to include leachate) always finds its own level and it is the only explanation why leachate spilled into the Matina Pangi river.
Methane gas is also certain to accumulate and it is my bet that if someone would throw a torch into the dump, it will ignite as what happened to the ESL-turned-dumpsite of La Trinidad, Benguet. So instead of helping mitigate climate change, the mismanaged ESL is in fact abetting it, how sad.
With Mayor Sara’s decision to seek reelection, now is the time for her to shepherd the proper implementation of Republic Act 9003 for a number of compelling reasons.
First, it is the right thing to do considering the city’s decision to put up another ESL. Second, solid waste is 60% biodegradable and its right place is in the compost receptacle. Third, this city’s biodegradable waste comes from a variety of sources (market, households, establishments to include poultry farms and piggeries) which translates into high-grade compost and could be the catalyst for plantations to go organic.
Fourth, Davao City is President Duterte’s hometown. So if Davao City can do it right in so far as RA 9003 is concerned, there is no reason why the rest of the Philippines would not follow.
RA 9003, implemented properly in Davao City, is Mayor Sara’s contribution to good governance, to climate change alleviation and to environmental protection. It is her one ticket to immortality.
