Mayor
Adrianne Mae Cuevas said the city government’s SWMP is in consonance with the
provisions of Republic Act 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act which mandates local government units (LGUs) to prepare their
respective SWMPs for the re-use, recycling and composting of generated waste
and its efficient management and disposal.
“This
10-year plan contains all the components provided in RA 9003 and a timetable for
implementation in accordance with the national framework plan. It contains the
direction, scope and the process by which the plan was developed,” she said,
adding its main features are to provide a doable ecological solid waste
management program, creating the necessary institutional mechanism and
incentives, declaring certain acts prohibited, providing penalties among others.
“It
conforms to the city government’s vision of turning Palayan into a vibrant
capital of Nueva Ecija with a well-managed environment, effective and efficient
waste management system that addresses the waste problems not only through
reduction and recycling but also through organic fertilizer production,
establishment of material recovery facilities (MRFs) in the barangays and
pocket green parks around the city,” she added.
Anelyn
Bongcawil, city environment and natural resources officer, noted that as early
as 2010, the preparation of the city’s SWMP was already started and submitted
to the National Solid Waste Management Council (NSWMC) and the Environmental
Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources
(DENR).
However,
its approval was held in abeyance by these agencies due to inaccurate data and
for failing to conform with the provincial and regional SWMPs.
The
Cuevas administration has since instituted various programs and measures such
as the closure of controlled and open dumpsites in Barangay Atate, the adoption
of clean and green programs and construction of a model MRF awarded by the
NSWMC.
At
present, the city government has established barangay MRFs in six of its 19
barangays. These are located in barangays Aulo, Bagong Buhay, Caballero, Mapaet
(formerly Manggahan), Militar and Santolan.
Helen
Grace Antonio, a consultant from the mayor’s office, said that based on their
projection, the volume of the city’s waste could balloon from 13.2 tons per day
(tpd) at the end of 2014 to 23 tpd by 2023.
By
2015, this could go up to 14.2 tons per day, to 15.6 tpd by 2016, to 16.8 tpd
by 2017, to 17 tpd by 2018, to 18.2 tpd by 2019, to 19.4 tpd by 2020, to 20.6
tpd by 2021, to 21.8 tpd by 2022 and finally to 23 tpd by 2023.
Based
on a report, biodegradable wastes form the bulk of collected wastes at 4,273.2
kilograms per day (kpd) followed by recyclables at 2,353.2 kpd, residual wastes
with 5,086.8 kpd and special wastes at 288 kpd.
Antonio
said that the major sources of residual wastes are six urban barangays of the city
(38.11%), the 13 rural barangays (36.48%) and non-households (14.74%).
The
most common residual wastes include diapers, sando bags, thin films, metallic,
metallic foil and sachet, tarpaulin and broken ceramics.
The
garbage problem has become a major issue during last year’s elections when
Cuevas was accused by her political rival of reportedly supporting the
establishment of a sanitary landfill in a 20-hectare site in Barangay Imelda
Valley
The
proposed sanitary landfill was contained in a 25-year lease agreement entered
into in June 2012 by Cuevas’ predecessor, former mayor Romeo Capinpin with a
waste-to-energy corporation.
Cuevas
denied she is supporting the landfill project, saying she was in fact
instrumental in having the contract between the Capinpin administration and the
firm Ecosci Corporation rescinded by the Sangguniang Panlunsod.
Cuevas
said it has consistently been her position to oppose the proposed sanitary
landfill together with Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali not only because of the
health hazards but also because of the stiff opposition by civic leaders and
local residents.
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