A total of 12 out of the 61 villages in this city have been identified as pilot barangays which started the “no segregation, no collection” policy on March 1, a month ahead of the citywide implementation set on April 1.
In Bacolod, the waste segregation policy is supposed to start on March 1, but the Liga ng mga Barangay has requested Mayor Evelio Leonardia for postponement amid the ongoing major programs and activities of all the villages.
“We have no choice but to follow the law. It’s not going to be easy but we will give it our best shot,” Leonardia said in a press conference.
The “no segregation, no collection” policy is mandated by Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
The mayor said that while he and Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, chair of the Solid Waste Action Team, understand the situation of the barangays and will grant their request, it must be made clear that this should be the last postponement.
“We salute the 12 barangays that volunteered to start as pilot areas beginning March 1,” Leonardia added.
The 12 pilot areas are Barangays 12, 17, 18, 22, 31, 37, Alangilan, Bata, Alijis, Estefania, Handumanan, and Taculing.
With the implementation of the “no segregation, no collection” policy, the city’s garbage contractor will only collect what is classified as residual waste such as sanitary napkins, disposal diapers, used/worn out rags, ceramics, Styropor, soiled tissue paper, cigarette butts, rubber and other solid materials that cannot be composted or recycled.
Compostable waste such as left-over food, and fruit and vegetable peelings will remain in the household while recyclables like bottles, glass, plastic bottles, papers, metal, tin cans, and wrapper sachets will be gathered by the barangay.
Bacolod generates close to 500 tons of garbage per day, based on the data of the Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB).
City Council Secretary Vicente Petierre III, secretariat chairperson and core group member of the SWMB, said that waste segregation is a work in progress and cannot be done overnight.
“This will continue until we can have a 100 percent compliance. If we will not start on April 1, then when? We will have to do that. It’s a good thing that these 12 barangays have voluntarily decided to start on March 1. (Then) we will (conduct) an assessment,” he added. (PNA)
