‘Reduce garbage; be careful with firecrackers’
For the Christmas and New Year revelry, be mindful of reducing the garbage that piles up during the celebration.
In yesterday’s 888 News Forum, spokesman Eddie Llamedo of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas (DENR-7) reminded Cebu residents of the need to reduce the use of gift wrapping and packaging that just adds to the landfill.
He said Cebu City residents generate 520 tons or 471,640 kilograms of garbage every day or nearly a kilo per person.
This represents 1.5 percent of the country’s daily solid waste generation of about 35,000 tons.
Llamedo also urged local government units (LGUs) to regularly collect garbage thrice a week.
He noted that barangay Guadalupe, Cebu City’s biggest barangay, doesn’t have an efficient waste garbage management and collection system.
“Sometimes it reaches two weeks before garbage is collected there,” Llamedo said.
Under Republic Act 9003, the LGUs have a big role to play in implementing the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Waste segregation is supposed to be adopted at the community or barangay level. Open dumpsites are banned.
The law prohibits the collection of non-segregated waste, which also includes mixing source-separated waste in any container used for solid waste collection or disposal.
Violators face imprisonment of one day to three years, or fines from P300 to as much as P500,000.
DENR-7 said localities should also designate areas for the sale and display of fireworks to reduce the risk of accidents.
Avoid burning tires as well that produce carbon monoxide and other substances that can form greenhouse gases.
Fire cracker vendors are required to secure a permit from the local government as well, said the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
Cebu City Councilor Dave Tumulak said reminders were issued to barangay barangay officials to strictly implement the city ordinance regulating the sale, distribution and use of fireworks.
Vendors can only sell pyrotechnics and firecrackers at the South Road Properties (SRP) which has wide open spaces.
Violators will be fined P5,000 and imprisonment of at least three months.
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
