Baguio City officials divided on R.A.9003

The Baguio City officials’ failure to address the garbage crisis continues to derail the implementation of R.A. 9003 known as the Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act of 2000. The law that was passed by congress was only good in papers but defectively powerless when it comes to its implementation.

Almost majority of the country’s local government units have failed to enforce R.A.9003 despite of the provisions that penalizes government officials of environmental neglect caused by the continuing operations of open dumpsite facilities in their area of concern.

And Baguio City is one of the worst violators of the said law. Although the City Mayor and some of the city councilors are willing to implement R.A.9003, they are being restrained by their colleagues and other local officials who are insensitive to the growing garbage problem of the city and the environmental impact it may caused.

The residents near the open dumpsite facility had been calling the attention of the city officials since 2004, the date when the national government mandated all cities and provinces to totally close all open dumpsites and implement the waste segregation policies in relation to R.A.9003.

Last 11 Feb. 2008, an ocular inspection and informal meeting was conducted by some city councilors in the dumping area located kilometers away from the city proper. But disagreements cropped-up on how to implement R.A.9003. Not only is the city officials divided on the issue but the residents themselves.

Garbage pickers and their families are not in favor of closing the open dumpsite which was seconded by a councilor who is supportive of their only means of livelihood. But majority of the residents opposed the arguments of the few because the dumping area has been the cause of health problems and environmental destruction.