Now that the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections have been concluded, an environmental group urged those who won to be at the forefront of the implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

Daniel Alejandre, zero waste campaigner of EcoWaste Coalition, said they are hoping that the new set of community and youth officials who will assume their office on June 30 will take the lead in enforcing RA 9003 at the barangay level.

“We hope newly-elected barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials will take RA 9003 to heart and make it a centerpiece in building zero-waste, toxics-free and disaster resilient communities,” Alejandre said in a statement.

Newly-constituted barangay councils should conduct a critical review of current ecological solid waste management programs, beef their solid waste management committee if needed, set progressive goals and targets, and come up with innovative strategies, including maximizing the vital role of the informal waste sector, the EcoWaste Coalition suggested.

RA 9003 specifically requires the country’s over 42,000 barangays to develop ecological solid waste management programs, promote waste separation at source, enforce a segregated collection for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste, and establish Materials Recovery Facilities in every barangay or cluster of barangays.

On the other hand, the group again renewed its call for proper waste disposal as garbage has been the culprit in drainage system clogging resulting to flooding when it rains.

The call was issued in lieu of the continued heavy rains causing flash floods in many parts of Metro Manila due to heavy rains dumped by the southwest monsoon due to Typhoon “Domeng.”

Alejandre pointed to trash that has been irresponsibly disposed that contribute to the flash floods affecting many commuters, residents and businesses.

He mentioned the familiar saying goes: “basurang tinapon mo, babalik sa iyo,” which has been there for a long time but being ignored by many.

“It is no secret that recklessly thrown garbage — from tiny cigarette filters to the omnipresent plastic bags —- can end up in storm drains and esteros blocking the flow of water and triggering flashfloods that can endanger people’s lives,” he said.

The Pasig River and its tributaries are full of trash that was dumped recklessly by the public, especially plastic and household wastes that found their way to the Manila Bay that aggravate pollution of the country’s water bodies and the oceans since there are also chemical contaminants into the water.

The environmental group called on the national and local government units to strictly implement Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act to addres the problem of solid waste and chemicals into waterways.

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