3 S. Leyte towns opt to group for less-cost SWM implementation
TACLOBAN CITY – Southern Leyte municipalities recently inked a Memorandum of Agreement to altogether fully implement the provisions of the Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, otherwise known as Republic Act 9003, under the formed Southern Leyte Pacific Municipal Environmental Alliance (SoLePaMEA).
Consisting of the municipalities of Anahawan, San Juan and Saint Bernard, the three municipalities shared related views particularly in the job-and resource-sharing part of the alliance that would pave the way for the full implementation of the law.
It can be recalled that the local government units have long lamented that the financial aspect of putting up a sanitary landfill has been hindering LGUs’ full compliance to RA 9003.
However, the national government through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) in coordination with GTZ-AHT Solid Waste Management for Local Government Units (SWM4LGUs) Project, have seen clustering LGUs as a practical means and an easier task to undertake specifically in putting up resource recovery programs and sanitary landfill facilities (SLF).
EMB-8 Regional Director Letecia Maceda has earlier disclosed that clustering is a practical solution as lower-income municipalities are confronted with an even greater feat – implementing the provisions of the law utilizing any available albeit limited resources that they have.
The MOA recently signed between the three municipalities contains agreement to consolidate efforts in the establishment of the integrated ecological and solid waste management system to serve their respective jurisdictions efficiently and jointly allocate funds and mobilize investments for planning, construction and operations of jointly coordinated SWM programs as prescribed.
The concerned municipalities also committed to organize and sustain the SoLePaMEA, make available their special knowledge, pilot sites and showcases in ecological solid waste management to other LGUs and actively support and participate in networking and knowledge sharing.
Prior to the MOA signing it was learned from GTZ-AHT Long term Expert Engr. Voltaire Acosta that the Southern Leyte cluster has to go through a process to first resolve intra-and inter-governmental issues at the local level particularly in analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of each of the LGU; crafting the LGU’s medium-term work plans and identifying gaps and options.
“If the partnership is sustained at the same pace, this might lead to establishing a best practice showcase not only in the region but nationwide,” Engr. Acosta said.
Among those present during the MOA signing activity in St. Bernard, Southern Leyte were Anahawan Mayor Roberto Loquinte, San Juan Mayor Federico Flores, St. Bernard Mayor Rico Rentuza, Southern Leyte Board Member Daisy Gamale in representation of the provincial government, GTZ-AHT Deputy Team Leader Engr. Ma. Victoria Ricana, EMB-8 Regional Coordinator for Solid Waste Management Maribel Munsayac, EMB-8 Regional Director Letecia Maceda, DILG-Southern Leyte Asst. Director Elsa Tingcoy and GTZ-AHT’s Engr. Voltaire Acosta. (AHLETTE C. REYES)
Read More on Leyte Samar Daily Express
- 3rd SWM Summit for EV slated on Nov. 18-19
- GTZ inks MOA with Leyte, So. Leyte towns on cooperation, assistance
- DOH, DOLE Orient Second Batch of NARS Trainees
- Construction of Tacloban City MRF to start this month
- Five Southern Leyte LGUs To Get Composting Facilities
