Managing Garbage

by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM

Kapehan guests on Saturday, October 31 are shown in the above picture (l to r) Dr. Felma R. Dela Cruz, Dr. Cynthia C. Dela Cruz, Kalibo Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo, Ms. Editha L. De Lemos, and Ms. Adorada T. Reynaldo.

Regular Kapehan forum on October 31, 2009 discussed "Solid Waste Management". Invited panelists were Dr. Felma R. Dela Cruz and Dr. Cynthia C. Dela Cruz – Kool Earth representatives; Ms. Adorada T. Reynaldo, – Administrative Officer, LGU Kalibo; Ms. Editha L. De Lemos – Head, Gen. Services, LGU Kalibo; and Kalibo Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo.

Atty. Ronquillo C. Tolentino mentioned that RA 9003 otherwise known as Ecological Waste Management Act of 2000 has an overall goal to establish integrated solid waste management system in all LGU’s and to operate them economically and environmentally on a sustainable basis. To realize this objective, Environment Management Bureau (EMB) personnel of Department of Environ-ment and Natural Resources will be trained in regulatory and development functions. It will also establish showcases and the best practices for proper solid waste management and capacity building.

Pilot projects implementation of RA 9003 were done in Iloilo City, Passi City, Dumaguete City and Buenavista, Guimaras. After five years, the program showed significant impact on environment. LGU’s adopted waste segregation, material recovery facility (MRF) and strengthened regulatory measures. Buoyed by success, the current administration will vigorously implement the program nationwide.

Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente as Chairman of Provincial Agriculture and Fishery Council reported that 27 units of Community Based Composting Facilities from Dept. of Agriculture were distributed to farmers associations of Aklan. The components include one (1) shredder machine, Vermi Tea Brewer, Vermi Bed, and 15 kgms. of earthworm (African Night Crawler sp). He further disclosed that 150,000 pesos was released to LGU New Washington for its Bagsakan terminal, and P175,000 to Rural Improvement Clubs in Makato for Goat Production Project.

According to Mayor Raymar A. Rebaldo, although Kalibo is just a small town, it has a city-sized problem in solid waste management. "Daily haul of 14 metric tons in garbage production creates undue stress on our limited resources. It should be noted that our dumping facility in Bakhaw Sur was badly damaged by typhoon Frank last year and never repaired ever since", he pointed out.

Any program to upgrade the dumping site calls for capital investment in earthmoving equipments like bulldozer, backhoe, and dump truck. Rebaldo confirmed the holding of training for Barangay officials on MRF in November 12, 2009.

Dr. De La Cruz said, Kool Earth is a new advocacy group that has adopted environmental sanitation on its agenda. Priority areas are tree planting, solid waste management, and environ-mental education. Health is tied to degree of sanitation in environment education. Hence passionate involve-ment of members of the Aklan Medical Society", said the lady physician.
Cecille De Lemos averred, the MRF program has five components namely: a) engineering, b) enforcement, c) education, d) collection, and e) personnel training.

Segregation of wastes into biodegradable and non-biodegradable materials is done at household level. This is placed in containers, each type collected by garbage trucks on specific time and day. All recyclables like paper, bottles, plastic and metals can be sold to junkshops. LGU Kalibo Ordinance On Solid Waste Management will be strictly enforced beginning January 1, 2010, said De Lemos.

Dr. Benny A. Palma, Pres. of ASU announced their P5 million trust fund will provide charcoal briquetting facility to 10 towns in Aklan. The package consists of carbonizer, shredder, mixer, and briquetting machine. The project will prevent the indiscriminate cutting down of trees for firewood and engaging in kaingin activity.

Leftover food, fruit/vegetable peelings, leaves, and grasses will be fed to earthworm for conversion into fertilizer.

Atty. Allen S. Quimpo announced that training on charcoal briquetting will be held this November. This will be participated in by EMB, KASAMA, ASU and LGU Kalibo personnel. The original cost of P200,000 per unit charcoal briquetting machine is reduced to P90,000 by ASU engineers. Moreover, E.I. Templonuevo can fabricate more economical and efficient shredder machine at a cost of P25,000.

According to Mayor Rebaldo, the Philippines is among the nine nations in Asia to enact a law on solid waste management, but implementation is slow.

Production of export quality type "bayongs" from palm trees or bamboo/nitto/coco baskets are best alternative to non-biodegradable plastic bags. It is durable. Individual consumers, companies, supermarkets, and retail outlets should be encouraged to use native bayongs/baskets that are more practical, durable, and fashionable. The Bread and Butter bakery with retail outlets in key cities in Panay Island now uses paper wrappers for its bread.

Successful solid waste management program in Puerto Princesa City is credited to active involvement of LGU, EMB, civic organizations and the people themselves.

It takes 45 days for earthworms to convert biodegradable materials into fertilizer. Rice hull could be carbonized and mixed with decayed animal manure for excellent organic fertilizer.

Mayor Rebaldo is determined to purchase heavy equipments to carry out major repair on existing dumping site in Bakhao Sur. This could easily have a price tag of P6 million. If there is genuine implementation of RA 9003, only a small fraction called the residuals or non-biodegradables will go into the sanitary landfill. Due to its precarious condition being located in a flood prone area, DENR has earlier recommended for facility transfer to a safe location. If the present dumpsite is renovated, millions in public fund will be spent to upgrade access road, administrative building and concrete enclosure.

Garbage collection is assigned to five trucks, half of it is crippled most of the time. The result is needless accumulation of garbage inside households that invite harmful pests and unbearable odor. Brewing up at Regional Science High School, Buswang Old is toxic gas from nearby dump site is hardly tolerable. /MP