Strict implementation of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act is expected to rid Cebu City streets of garbage left along the streets and sidewalks.
Starting today, households in Cebu City will have to segregate their wastes, otherwise, these won’t be collected.
The Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB) and barangay captains in the city agreed that starting March 1, City Ordinance 2031 which specifically mandates the segregation of wastes from source will be strictly observed. Republic Act 2003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act mandates local government units to the proper segregation, collection, storage, treatment and disposal of solid wastes.
“We are ready to strictly implement the rule again. We’ve set the schedule and we have met with the barangay captains again,” SWMB secretary Eli Espina told Cebu Daily News.
Biodegradable wastes will be collected every Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. Non-biodegradable wastes will be collected only on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
“We’ve agreed to give more collection days for biodegradable wastes because we understand the need to dispose of them quickly,” Espina said.
In their meeting with barangay captains, it was agreed that north district barangays will dump their garbage at the landfill in Pulog, Consolacion while south district barangays will dispose of their garbage in two treatment facilities in Inayawan.
Households which don’t segregate their wastes will be issued a warning for the first offense and will be issued a citation and pay a compromise fee of P1,000 the next time they don’t follow the rule.
The city is confident it can implement the “no segregation, no collection policy” because there are also fines for garbage collectors who don’t follow the rule.
Garbage collectors and loaders, even those from the Department of Public Services (DPS), will be fined P3,000 if they collect garbage which are not segregated.
According to Association of Barangay Captains (ABC) president Philip Zafra, they are continuing with their information drive on this policy in the barangays.
The city’s Public Information Office also started information campaigns through streamers put up in the different barangays.