Palace to LGUs: Keep trash off streets, waterways
Malacañang has urged local government units (LGUs) to take a bigger role in flood prevention by disposing garbage more efficiently as it studies how a portion of the National Tax Allotments (NTA) can be allocated for solid waste management projects.
In a statement on Sunday, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto called on LGUs to work with the national government in an “all-out approach” against flooding after weeks of southwest monsoon (“habagat”) rains exposed how improperly discarded garbage worsened the situation in Metro Manila and different parts of Luzon.
“We need to widely promote a culture of discipline. As we have said before, the garbage you improperly throw away will eventually come back to you,” said Recto, who met with key government agencies and LGU representatives on Aug. 20.
“Our meeting showed that there is no garbage crisis in Metro Manila, but there is a crisis in improper waste disposal,” he said. “The message of the President is clear: this is a problem that requires a whole-of-society approach, including our citizens.”
Revenue share
To address the problem, Recto said the Marcos administration is studying how a share of the LGUs’ NTA, which will reach P1.32 trillion next year, can be spent on solid waste management.
The national government, under Republic Act No. 7160 or the Local Government Code, can set a minimum mandatory spending requirement for LGUs’ tax share.
In particular, Section 287 of RA 7160 and Article 383 (b) of its implementing rules and regulations direct LGUs to set aside no less than 20 percent of their NTA to fund development projects, which may include solid waste management projects.
Large volumes of trash accumulated in waterways and clogged drainage systems in recent weeks due to severe rains and tropical cyclones, with floodwaters sweeping waste from communities toward Metro Manila’s waterways and the Manila Bay.
Last week, Department of Environment and Natural Resources personnel collected a total of 1,255 sacks of garbage from 27 waste-clogged waterways in the National Capital Region.
7.5M affected
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said on Sunday that 7.5 million individuals have been affected by the combined effects of Tropical Cyclones “Luis” and “Maymay” (international name: Kujira) and “Neneng” (Gaenari) and the southwest monsoon.
In its latest situation report as of Aug. 23, the NDRRMC said most of them were in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Cordilleras, Metro Manila, Calabarzon and Mimaropa.
Of the figure, 34,103 individuals or 9,872 families were in evacuation centers.
It reported 29 deaths and 19 injuries while three people were still missing.
A total of 89 areas also remained under a state of calamity.
The NDRRMC said general infrastructure damage has reached P4.9 billion, while agricultural damage was estimated at P1.7 billion.
It added that a total of P1.24 billion in assistance has been released so far.
Barangay drive
Recto, meanwhile, said the government is pursuing a Cleanest Barangay Program to recognize and provide incentives to villages that perform well in cleanliness and waste management.
He said the flow of garbage must be stopped while it is still within communities.
“When canals and streets are turned into garbage dumps, rivers become expressways for garbage when heavy rains fall. There are no toll gates for trash, so it continues its journey all the way to Manila Bay or our larger waterways,” Recto said.
“Manila Bay is not a toilet for plastic. As beautiful as the sunset here may be, the amount of garbage from irresponsible littering is just as terrible,” he added.
Recto urged Filipinos to change their waste disposal habits, including proper segregation and disposal.
“This is not difficult to do because when Filipinos are abroad, we know how to follow the rules: when garbage is collected, how to segregate and where to dispose of waste properly. We have discipline. I hope we show even more of it when we are in our own country,” he said. —WITH A REPORT FROM ZACARIAN SARAO
