Strict enforcement of environmental laws pushed

Senator Loren Legarda called for the strict and immediate implementation of environmental laws, particularly the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003), to address the worsening effects of flooding in Metro Manila and across the country.

“We are drowning in our own waste and garbage,” she said.

Legarda, principal author of RA 9003, stressed that clogged waterways filled with solid waste resulting in recurring floods are a direct consequence of poor compliance with solid waste management regulations and a glaring example of how environmental neglect and lack of discipline leads to climate-related disasters.

“Our waterways are clogged with garbage. This is a clear sign of non-compliance with our solid waste law. Flooding is not just a matter of inconvenience; it puts our families, our children, our neighbors, and our kababayans’ lives at risk. We cannot expect safe, clean and flood-free communities if we continue to disregard basic environmental rules,” Legarda emphasized.

Aside from improper disposal of waste, the four-term senator also cited illegally constructed infrastructure on waterways and ineffective community-level enforcement as factors that aggravate the impact of heavy rains brought by the southwest monsoon (habagat).

She called on residents to take an active part in barangay cleanup drives and urged local government units, MMDA and key national agencies to intensify rehabilitation projects to clean esteros, canals and flood-prone neighborhoods.

She also called on the maritime sector, urging them to keep their waste on board.

“All boats, ships and vessels have equal duties to our seas. They must never dump waste into the sea as habagat currents carry garbage to coastal communities who did not cause the pollution.”