Koko wants Senate inquiry on dumpsites

Senator Aquilino Pimentel III called for an investigation in aid of legislation into the application of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (Republic Act 9003) on the operations of dumpsites nationwide. "There should be systematic rehabilitation of decommissioned dumpsites to reduce the continuing biological, chemical, and physical threats from these disposal facilities," he said Friday. He issued the statement after heavy rains Typhoon Mina spawned collapsed the retaining wall of the Irisan dumpsite in Baguio. Five persons died in that incident. Article 6 Section 37 of RA 9003 provides that "no open dumps shall be established and operated, nor any practice or disposal of solid waste by any person, including LGUs, which constitutes the use of open dumps for solid wastes, be allowed after the effectivity of this act." RA 9003 also says that within three years of its effectivity, each local government unit shall convert its open dumps into controlled dumps as disposal sites where solid waste is deposited in accordance with the minimum prescribed standards of site operation. Local government officials and other state officials who fail to enforce or comply with the act's rules and regulations may face administrative charges. Pimentel said there is also a need to evaluate the Solid Waste Management Commission, which was created under RA 9003 to manage the Solid Waste Management fund. Pimentel also wants to review the integrated national solid waste management framework. — ELR/VS, GMA News