Surigao Norte to recreate SWM board for heightened solid waste implementation
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte -- The provincial government of Surigao del Norte is eyeing to reinforce the creation of a Provincial Solid Waste Management (SWM) Board to strengthen the implementation of solid waste management.
During the Provincial SWM Board meeting on April 12, 2023, Antonietto Charcos, environmental consultant of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO), stressed the importance of the recreation and composition of the Provincial SWM Board for the implementation of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act in the province, particularly the 10-year SWM Plan.
The 10-year SWM Plan primarily places emphasis on the implementation of all feasible re-use, recycling, and composting programs and strategies on collection and transfer, source reduction, and operation and maintenance of SWM equipment and facility consistent with the National Solid Waste Management Framework by the National Solid Waste Management Council (NSWMC).
Charcos expressed how crucial and alarming the SWM situation in the province. However, the official said this can be grappled with by the recreation and composition of the Provincial SWM Board with active engagement of all municipal and city local government units (LGUs) through their respective Environment and Natural Resources Offices (ENRO). The board will be the rightful arm of the province in rolling out effective ecological SWM and monitoring all SMW-related activities and initiatives.
The board will also prioritize the closure and rehabilitation of dumpsites, the establishment of materials recovery facilities, and an environmentally sound disposal system.
Jessalou Ampatin, chief of Solid Waste Management of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Caraga, reported the 100 percent observance of all 21 LGUs in implementing source reduction strategies, segregation, recycling, and composting strategies and alternative technologies of SWM. Timely collection of wastes, including house-to-house collection of recyclable and reusable products, garbage service and waste management personnel in every barangay, and bio-waste diversion activities are a few of the desirable efforts coming from LGUs.
For recyclable and reusable products, emerging alternative technologies are adopted by the LGUs acquiring biodegradable waste shredders and pulverizers to produce raw materials that can be reintroduced into manufacturing, plastic recycling plants that can produce eco-bricks, plastic tables and chairs, rotary composters and many more.
In terms of solid waste collection service in all barangays, the province is currently at 76 percent completion while the emergence of disposal facilities is proceeding.
Concerns on waste segregation, funds and materials to be used in filling and properly closing open dump sites, tedious conduct of a sanitary landfill site assessment, and its maintenance were raised, the latter being a necessary element of a working solid management system that needs to be established in each locality and is considered to be the most grueling.
Appropriate legislative measures are enacted to ensure the implementation of SWM backed up with information, education and communication (IEC) drives like installing SWM signages in public places and barangays. (DMNR/RPC/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
