Ecological Waste Management Board Reorganization

by MELROSE S. LUNN

Aklan environmentalist like officers and members of Kool Earth devote time and effort to collect garbage to promote conducive biosphere for man to live in as shown in the above picture

The Municipal Government of Kalibo, through its Solid Waste Management Services Department held a two-day Orientation and IEC Planning Workshop last month at the Municipal Conference Hall, Kalibo Municipal Building, Kalibo, Aklan.

Hon. Mayor William S. Lachica has issued Executive Order No. 018, Series of 2010, dated November 5, 2010. It reorganized the Municipal Solid Waste Management Board of the Municipality of Kalibo, Aklan. The Executive Order issued is in support to Republic Act No. 9003 entitled "An Act Providing for an Ecological Solid Waste Management Program, Creating the Necessary Institutional Mechanisms and Incentives, Declaring Certain Acts Prohibited and Providing Penalties, Appropriating Funds Therefore, and For Other Purposes." Furthermore, this executive order encourages the Solid Waste Management Board to take the lead in the implementation of the program.

Ms. Adorada T. Reynaldo, Public Service Officer II, Solid Waste Management Services head, together with Ms. Juliet T. Melrgarejo – Exec Asst/OIC MEEDO of the Municipality of Kalibo, initiated the conduct of the Orientation and IEC Planning Workshop.

In the two-day orientation and planning workshop, Ms. Reynaldo presented The Kalibo Waste Management Situation; and Dr. Emmette L. Custodio – Medical Specialist/Member, Local Health Board presented the Health Impacts of Improper Solid Waste Management; Fundamentals of ESWM and Its Legal Framework by Mr. Heherson R. Alvarez – Ecosystem Management Coordinator; Roles and Responsibilities of MSWM Board, Agreement on the MSWMB Working Protocol. The Planning Workshop was led by Ms. Maricel M. Bechayda – MLGOO, LGU Kalibo;

Ms. Reynaldo brought up to the workshop some inherent issues on waste management. She also updated the body about the ecology on solid waste management framework of the Municipality of Kalibo. Waste segregation at source is being encouraged to Non–Biodegradable, Residual/Hazardous and Biodegradable (home composting) by the ESW Management Board. This includes waste materials from establishments/institution and the households. According to the survey on waste composition, it was found that 42 percent come from kitchen waste, 19 percent are paper, 17 percent are plastic, 6 percent from metal, 7 percent from garden waste and 9 percent are unidentified waste materials.

In RA 9003 of 2000, Sec 2 states that there is NO issuance of business permit once the establish-ment will not follow the provisions on proper disposal of their waste materials. In Kalibo, there is a business establishments which religiously follows this provision. Filbake/Bread and Butter earned more or less Php300K alone for one year practicing Materials Recovery Facility in its company backyard. Indeed, "May Pera sa Basura."

Ms. Reynaldo, also reported the progress of their implementation of SWM. They have purchased a Rotary Drum Composter Composting Supplies at a cost of P529,000.00 for the Kalibo Composting Facility located at Tinigao, Kalibo; the Enactment of Municipal Ordinance 2009-004 otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Code of Kalibo, the Printing of Environmental Citation Tickets and Component of ESW Management Board.

The board agreed to also enlist the support of all the civic organizations, the academe, tri-media, and sangguniang kabataan/youths to help conduct community service and to keep the passion of advocacy on environmental concerns. The workshop ended with the signing of a covenant to support the Ecological Solid Waste Management Code of Kalibo. /MP