Improving the solid waste management in LT

June 10, 2018 Ikit ng Bayan Opinion

Benguet Province has 13 municipalities with 140 barangays and its capital is the municipality of La Trinidad. Because of the capital’s growing population, the need of improving the solid waste management is a priority.

Bantay Basura Program gives 30% to 40% decrease of residual garbage in the municipality of La Trinidad within its implementation of the past six months, Coun. Roderick Awingan take an action to present to the Sangguniang Bayan the proposed Ordinance titled “Institutionalizing and strengthening the implementation of the Bantay Basura Program in the Municipality of La Trinidad providing funds therefor and for other purposes by the assistance of Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) in partnership of LGU-Community, Barangays and General Services Office where neighbours cooperate to address garbage disposal issues”.

Mayor Romeo Salda said that they are to seek the approval of the Sangguniang Bayan for re-alignment for the Salary of Bantay-Basura personnel from different barangays amounting to P6million this 2018. Salda also clarifies that the P6M is not for salary alone but also for their proper outfit while collecting garbage.

Another program of LT addressing the problem on garbage is the use of shredder. One of the 16 barangays was given P600,000 last year to purchase the multi-purpose shredder/pulveriser which is Brgy. Alapang and now two more have requested also for an alternative technology in reducing the size of plastic and plastic bottles and convert them into bricks.

Now among the four municipalities in the Philippines: Janiuay of Panay Iloilo, Del Carmen of Surigao Del Norte, Malay in Aklan, and now La Trinidad in Benguet were the chosen municipalities to comply with the requirements evaluated and reviewed by NEDA which is authorized for national funding to endorse the papers to the Regional Development Council to the Investment Coordination Committee, the inter-agency body chaired by the President that approves foreign-funded of Public Private Partnership Projects.

La Trinidad Coun. Henry Kipas said, “The Municipality is capable for the counterpart of P7M of every year for 6years to comply with the development of Solid Waste Management representing the 20% of General Appropriation Fund.” And because of the records on collection of garbage fee, La Trinidad is hopeful that they may convince the ICC to finally approve this project.

South Korea lends $1B for the infrastructure program of the Philippine government as official development assistance. However, the ODA will go to the new Cebu International Container Port project, $50 million to the project preparation facility of the National Irrigation Administration, and $100 million to the new Dumaguete Airport payable for 40 years but who will pay for this “Perang Hiram sa Banyaga” iKit you are free to state your opinion where freedom of expression is very much welcome. Anyway, you are entitled to your own opinion. This is yours truly, Tita Ara Katter of iKit ng Bayan of 98.7 ZRadio FM, that always reminds you “Ti panagkaykaysa, mangiwanwan itit naranyag nga pagsayataan.”