US, Philippine City Sign 10-Year Waste Management Program

COTABATO CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / Oct. 30, 2007) – US and Philippine officials have signed an agreement that would strengthen the local solid waste management program.

Mayor Muslimin Sema, of Cotabato city, signed the agreement with representatives of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Growth for Equity in Mindanao (GEM) and the Philippines’ Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Foremost in the agreement is the reconstitution of the City Solid Waste Management Board for the proper implementation of a Ten-Year Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan.

“The project has been most awaited for. It will serve the interest of the local government of Cotabato City, particularly in the efforts to address environmental problems,” Sema, a former Moro rebel leader-turned politician, said.

Just this year, Sema also signed a 3-year contract worth P40 million for waste management project with Accion Contra El Hambre and Handicap International-Philippines. The project is bankrolled by the European Commission thru its Asia Pro-Eco Programme. (Abdullah Cusain)

Zamboanga Residents Urged To Recyle Wastes

DIPOLOG CITY, Philippines (Mindanao Examiner / 05 Sept) – Dipolog City in the southern province Zamboanga del Norte has urged its residents to recycle their garbage as part of a long-term waste management program.

Lawyer Alanixon Selda, local government spokesman, said Dipolog City is fast tracking its waste management system and is expected to finish before the year ends.

He said the city’s dumpsite in the village of Sangkol would also be closed in accordance with the implementation of the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Under the law, all controlled disposal facilities should be deemed closed and that waste generation must be reduced by 25 percent after five years.

Dipolog City Mayor Evelyn Tang-Uy and Selda recently attended a conference on waste management in Manila.

The Philippine Information Agency also quoted Selda as saying that they plan to have every village to put up a non-biodegradable material recovery facility where plastics and metals are collected.
“We will tap the villages to start with waste segregation, recycle and reuse. Every person is also encouraged to reduce waste generation," Selda said, adding, the local government will also tap junkshop owners to buy non-biodegradable waste materials from the "recovery facilities."

Households are also encouraged to put up their own compost pits for biodegradable wastes.