STA. ROSA, Nueva Ecija – Christmas can never come bare at the town hall here, not even after a powerful storm like “Santi” wreaked havoc just recently.
By just keeping the municipal government’s thrust on solid waste management, employees of all national and local agencies holding offi ce inside the municipal compound here were able to put up complete Christmas decoration with their few pesos.
Garlands and wreaths made of used bond papers, scene of nativity from empty bottles, or snowmen – name it and they have it. “Ginawa namian ito hindi para kami ay papurihan, kundi sana po ay sundan,” said Ruben Esquejo, Jr., municipal administrator, saying that the town government has been espousing proper waste segregation.
This year’s theme, “Panalo ang Pasko”, aims at showcasing the worth of materials which are commonly thrown away into garbage bins but are actually potential source of livelihood. “Sana ay maging gawi bilang bahagi
ng pagse-selebra ng anumang okasyon sa ating mga ahensiya o tanggapan,” he said.
This municipality is one of only three local government units in Central Luzon with approved material recovery facility, according to Abraham Pascua, Nueva Ecija provincial director and concurrent assistant regional director for Central Luzon of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Ang ibig sabihin ‘yung mahigit isandaan na LGUs ng Central Luzon, tatlo lang ang nakatupad sa Republic Act 9003,” Pascua told town employees and newly elected village heads here. He said the DILG is now closely scrutinizing the waste management plans of all LGUs in the region by conducting waste analysis and characterization study (WACS) since Nov. 12.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, according to Pascua, is already contemplating on fi ling charges against local executives in the region for failing to comply with RA 9003.
Mayor Josefino Angeles said they have put up the municipal MRF, equipped with a warehouse, composting area and a sanitary landfi ll, in Barangay Mapalad here in 2007. “Pero hanggang nitong nakaraang taon ay sumasakit pa rin ang ulo ko sa implementasyon ng waste segregation,” he said.
“Talaga hong meron pa ring pasaway. Sabihin man nating piliin yung nabubulok sa hindi nabubulok, ganun pa rin po. Eh talagang pinagtutulung-tulungan po natin,” Angeles said Friday. He enjoined newly elected and re-elected village heads to fully cooperate in the campaign.
Referring to the decoration which the employees put up by spending only a little amount on paste and some coloring materials, Angeles said the municipal government would want to tell the world that there is indeed money from waste. “Para ipakita sa ating bayan na ‘yung itinatapon nating basura ay may pakinabang,” he said.
