Policy aims to make Tacloban a clean and healthy city

TACLOBAN CITY- For almost two weeks now, the city government here has been implementing it’s ‘no segregation, no collection policy’ on waste disposal.
And so far, the result appears to be encouraging, said city environment and natural resources officer Jonathan Hijada.
According to Hijada, the policy first introduced on Feb.24, is being strictly imposed by the city government of Mayor Alfred Romualdez not only to comply the country’s solid waste management law as contained under Republic Act 9003 but more so to expand the usefulness of its sanitary landfill and also help save the city in millions of pesos that could be better used in the delivery of other basic services.
Under the no segregation, no collection policy, the city garbage collectors would only collect if the residual wastes like diapers, kitchen wastes, sanitary pads, and soiled items and the non-recyclable wastes are placed in separate garbage bags or containers.
These collected wastes are then deposited at the city’s sanitary landfill and its decomposting facility.
Otherwise, these would not be collected with violators to be fined from P500 up to P1,000 and community service, depending on the number of violation committed.
“We want cooperation from our barangay leaders and our people. We don’ want to reach to the point that we will be filing complaint against anyone who will not follow this policy,” Hijada said as he appealed to the public to practice at their own backyard or barangay decomposting.
“We want to impose discipline among our people and make Tacloban City a healthy and clean city,” he added.
Hijada said that if this policy would be strictly followed by the city residents, the city government, in turn, could save millions of funds which could be better used to help improve the delivery of basic services.
And since they have started the policy, around 100 violators have been fine.
It was learned from Hijada that the city government allocates around P80 million for garbage collection and the maintenance of its sanitary landfill.
But if this policy would be followed, only 30 percent of the P80 million would be used by the city government on waste collection and landfill management.
Hijada said that based on their waste management analysis and study, out of the city’s 115 tons a day of garbage, 65 percent are considered be residual and 11 percent recyclables which could just be buried or decompost instead of throwing them at the city’s sanitary landfill located in Barangay San Roque.
If these 75 percent residual and recyclable wastes would just be buried or decompost, this would help extend the lifespan of the city’s sanitary landfill from just eight years to about 11 years, the official said.
Thus, only 24 percent or about 27 tons a day would be deposited at the city’s sanitary landfill, Hijada added.
These residual wastes, in turn, are being converted into organic fertilizers which the city government are to give to those who are into organic farming.(JOEY A. GABIETA)

Saying it runs counter to peace efforts

CATBALOGAN CITY- Samar Governor Reynolds Michael Tan expressed his reservation declaring the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army(CPP-NPA) as persona non grata.
According to the governor, declaring the communist group, particularly its armed wing, as persona non grata, may not help on the campaign of the national government to engage them to peace talks.
“In fact, even the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) does not support it as how can you initiate a peace talks if you will declare them as persona non grata,” Tan said during an interview.
“(But) on the other hand, the LGUs declares them as persona non grata as their strong message that they condemn the atrocities committed by them,” he added.
Several local government units of the province, to include its provincial capital of Catbalogan City, have passed resolutions declaring the CPP-NPA as persona non grata.
The 8th Infantry Division, the main headquarters of government troops in Eastern Visayas, is based in Catbalogan City.
The province continue to struggle with communist insurgency problem just like the provinces of Eastern Samar and Northern Samar.
Gov. Tan also said that while he has his own ‘personal’ reservations making the CPP-NPA as persona non grata, he would not mind if the provincial board would come up with a resolution for such purpose.
“That depends among the board members (to do that),” he said, adding they could at least condemn the atrocities being committed by the rebels against government forces or to the civilians.
Gov. Tan stressed that he is with the campaign of the national government to end the insurgency problem of the country.
“I want them to become useful citizens of our country,” he said.
For his part, he is making sure that people in far-flung barangays of the province would feel the presence of the provincial government but visiting them and providing basic services so they would not feel being neglected by the government.
The administration of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte aims to quell the insurgency problem of the country by 2022.
The Regional Peace and Order Council has earlier push for a localized peace talks.