A total of 1,103 local government units now have their approved 10-year solid waste management plans, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) announced on Thursday.
The latest batch of 21 LGUs to have their solid waste management (SWM) plans approved by the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) include 4 LGUs from Ilocos Norte, 4 from Misamis Occidental, 2 from Zambales, 2 from Bohol, 2 from Lanao del Norte, and each from Nueva Ecija, Quezon province, Negros Oriental, Misamis Oriental, Surigao del Sur, Benguet, and Mountain Province.
“These SWM plans shall be the foundation for the effective solid waste management of cities and municipalities through the leadership of their local executives,” said Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary and National Solid Waste Management Council (NSWMC) Chair Roy A. Cimatu said in a news statement.
“These newly-approved plans are commitments of the NSWMC to capacitate LGUs. The commission shall continue to support them by approving fully compliant and sound SWM plans and overseeing the implementation of these plans,” he added.
DENR Undersecretary for SWM and Local Government Unit Concerns and NSWMC Alternate Chair Benny D. Antiporda said the commission is optimistic that it will be able to reach its total target of 1,716 SWM plans soon.
There are a total of 146 cities and 1,488 municipalities in 81 provinces nationwide.
Each LGU is required to come up with their 10-year solid waste management plans under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
“Upcoming deliberations and reviews of other SWM plans of LGUs that are not yet approved will continue in the coming months,” Antiporda said.
“We will not waver until all LGUs in the country effectively practice the proper reuse, collection, processing, and disposal of wastes in their respective jurisdictions,” he assured.