Loren calls for incentives to waste management

COPENHAGEN, DENMARK – SEN. LOREN LEGARDA SAID HERE TODAY THE PHILIPPINES AND OTHER DEVELOPING COUNTRIES CAN CONTRIBUTE TO CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION THROUGH INDIGENOUS MEASURES, SUCH AS MORE EFFECTIVE SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT.
Loren urged the Philippine government to fully and effectively implement the Solid Waste Management Act that mandate the proper disposal of garbage which contribute to greenhouse emission.

Speaking in Filipino, Loren disclosed that three to four percent of greenhouse gas emission come from garbage dumpsites. The gas emission is held by scientists to be responsible for polluting the atmosphere, causing global warming that aggravates floods, typhoons, rising seas and droughts.

She said that the dumpsites, unless properly managed, produce methane gas that choke the atmosphere and cause ailments among the people. She especially mentioned the plastic materials that are do not deteriorate.

Loren explained that the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 or Republic Act No. 9003, which she sponsored in Congress, provides for composting, recycling, reuse and recovery of garbage. It also calls for segregation, collection, transport and proper storage of waste.

She urged the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to cooperate closely with local governments in implementing the Act, so as to improve the environment and soften the effects of global warming. The DENR has an additional budget of P12 million for the implementation of the Solid Waste Management Act next year, Loren disclosed.

She also appealed to the general public to cooperate with their local governments in the proper disposal of garbage. She pointed out that according to a study, out of seven tons of garbage produced in Manila, only five tons are collected for the garbage dumps.

To make garbage collection more effective, Loren said she was filing a bill proposing incentives for the proper collection and disposal of garbage, while increasing the penalties for violation of the waste management act.

Loren is in Copenhagen attending the UN summit on climate change as head of the Philippine Congress delegation. She is current the vice-chair of the Senate committee on finance and UN regional champion for climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in Asia Pacific.

She has sided with the developing countries in demanding that the rich industrialized countries should financially assist the poor countries in adopting measures to combat climate d countries should financially assist the poor countries in adopting measures to combat climate change.