ANGELES CITY – Pampanga First District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin has proposed the creation of sanitary landfills in every province and the use of incinerators to address the problem of garbage in the country.
Lazatin recently filed House Bill No. 4370, or “an act causing the construction of a sanitary landfill in every province of the country, the lifting of the ban on incinerators, amending RA 9003 and RA 8749.”
It could be recalled that Gov. Lilia “Baby” Pineda earlier this year urged Lazatin to amend RA 9003 as LGUs could not establish sanitary landfill in their respective jurisdiction due to lack of funds.
Lazatin agreed with Pineda, saying the lack of financial capability of most LGUs to construct sanitary landfills is one that causes the delay.
“Eight years after the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2003 or RA 9003 took effect; there were visible gains and shortcomings upon its implementation,” said Lazatin in the explanatory note.
“Some of these clear gains, but not limited to, is the recognition of many regarding the need to reduce, reuse, and recycle our waste and the creation of the inertia regarding the closure of open and controlled dumpsites,” Lazatin said.
“However, while these gains are being further pushed by some, many LGUs are still lagging when it comes to compliance with RA 9003,” he added.
Lazatin also said that while the sanitary landfills are being constructed, the LGUs and national government should establish incinerators. “The creation of landfills is a long-term solution, while incinerators are immediate and medium-term solutions.”
But the two-term solon stressed that the incinerators should be “at par with those used in Japan.”
“There should be zero emission of harmful gas coming from the burning of garbage,” Lazatin said.
He added that the incinerators will be used on a long-term basis for hospital waste.
“Hospital wastes are too dangerous and must be eliminated properly and immediately. We really need the incinerators even after we have all the sanitary landfills in place,” said Lazatin.
In his bill, Lazatin noted that LGUs and the national government through the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will equally and collectively shoulder the expenses for the construction of sanitary landfills. –Joey Pavia
