Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Ano yesterday issued show cause orders to 108 local government units (LGU) for their failure to submit a 10-year solid waste management plan as required by law.

We don’t want another case of Manila Bay. These LGU have, unfortunately, been accustomed to leniency

In a statement, Año said the orders were issued as the government beefed up efforts to rehabilitate tourist spots in the country.

Año “We don’t want another case of Manila Bay. These LGU have, unfortunately, been accustomed to leniency. The Solid Waste Management Plan is a requirement of law, yet for many years they ignored it. Hence, we have no recourse but to issue show cause orders to them,” Año said.

The DILG chief directed the concerned LGU to submit within 10 days from receipt of the orders a notarized explanation on why no administrative penalty should be recommended against them for not submitting the solid waste management plan.

The orders will be received by the LGU as early as next week, DILG Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya said.

Citing policy, the DILG did not divulge the names of the concerned local officials.

“We are according these local chief executives due process. But once we have received their reply and validated their explanations, we will be releasing the names of those found to be negligent in the performance of their functions,” Malaya said.

According to the DILG, most of the LGU that were issued a show cause order were from the Bangsamoro region with 78.

Of this number, 31 are from Lanao del Sur; 18 from Sulu; 11 from Maguindanao, and nine from Basilan and Tawi-Tawi.

Five LGU from Mimaropa, eight from the Bicol Region; one from Western Visayas, and four each from Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon, Central Visayas and Eastern Visayas will also receive said orders.

Section 16 of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 mandates all provinces, cities or municipalities through their local solid waste management boards to prepare a 10-year plan consistent with the National Solid Waste Management Framework and submit it to the National Solid Waste Management Commission.

The DILG chief also said the LGU should immediately submit the plan for the agency to refrain from pursuing further legal action.

“If we need to be upfront and strict, gagawin namin ‘yun (we will do that), all for the proper implementation of the laws of the land and the protection of the environment,” Año said.