The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has ordered newly elected barangay officials to create their own solid-waste management committees that will focus on addressing environmental problems brought about by the garbage menace.
In a news statement, Interior Secretary Eduardo M. Año said barangay officials should be mindful of the environment and promote proper solid-waste management practices to prevent flooding, especially during heavy rains.
Under Memorandum Circular 2018-112, the DILG chief ordered the newly elected barangay officials to organize and mobilize their respective Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Committee (BESWMC), which should lead the conduct of community solid-waste management program consistent with that of the city or municipality where they belong.
The BESWMC is composed of the barangay chairman, a Sangguniang Barangay member, Sangguniang Kabataan chairman, president of homeowners association, public/private-school principal or the parents and teachers association president or kinatawan, a representative from the religious sector, business community, environmental nongovernment organization, junk shop’s owners organization and president of market vendors’ association as members.
Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological and Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 mandates the creation of the BESWMC for the proper segregation, collection of solid waste from source.
Año also urged local chief excutives and provincial governors to enforce the policy promoting proper solid-waste management to prevent flooding caused by poor disposal of garbage.
The BESWMC is mandated to establish a material-recovery facility, allocate funds and implement an ecological solid-waste management program duly approved by the Sangguniang Barangay and integrate such plan into the barangay-development plan or annual investment plan.
The DILG chief said the barangay-level committee is expected to put in place measures and system of buying and selling recyclable wastes, including organic fertilizer produced through composting and other livelihood opportunities through waste recycling.