Towards a Greener and
Healthier Environment: An
IEC on RA 9003
Presented by Christy Bellon Venezuela.
June is Environment
Month
Proclamation No. 237 establishes June as Philippine
Environment Month. The proclamation aims to
increase environmental awareness and promote
active involvement in protecting and developing the
environment in the Philippines.
RA 9003 is a 23-
year old
environmental law.
8749 otherwise known as “the
Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999” and
Republic Act No. 9003 otherwise
known as "the Ecological Solid Waste
Management Act of 2000" pertaining to
the ban on incineration of waste.
Primary form of waste management
are:
are placed in the barangay Material Recovery Facility and
then collected by the garbage truck.
Reduction of the ecological footprint
The active and honest-to-goodness enforcement of
R.A. 9003 and its Implementing Rules and Regulations,
as well as related ordinances, hinge on the political will
of local leaders to put into action the basic
requirements of ecological solid waste management,
What should we do?
R.A. 9003 requires a comprehensive
and ecological approach to managing
municipal solid waste via waste
prevention, reduction, source
separation, reuse, recycling and
composting, excluding waste
incineration.
The barangay, which is the frontline of
the government, is further required
under R.A. 9003 to develop an ecological
solid waste management program,
promote waste segregation, implement a
segregated collection for biodegradable
and non-biodegradable discards, and set
up Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) in
every barangay or cluster of barangays.
Functional MRFs at the barangay level can
help a lot in promoting ecological awareness
and responsibility among waste generators,
and in facilitating the efficient and
environmentally sound sorting, processing
and storage of compostable and recyclable
discards such as paper, glass, plastic, metal,
among others.
These MRFs have the potential to boost
community-driven ecological waste
management that will reduce hauling costs,
conserve resources, prevent spillage of
plastics to water bodies, and foster
environmental values among the people
Moreover, the barangay also has a crucial
job in ensuring strict compliance with
acts prohibited and punishable under R.A.
9003, including littering, open dumping,
and open burning,
As front liners of public service,
Barangay and SK leaders have a huge
responsibility in making our
neighborhoods clean, healthy and
safe for everyone, especially for
children who are most vulnerable to
harm and illness
. It is urged that barangay and SK leaders-elect to
put the genuine implementation of R.A. 9003 at
the centerpiece of their environmental and health
programs, which also has the potential of creating
recycling-based livelihoods and enterprises
. You as grassroots leaders will inspire and guide
our communities to the cause of environmental
conservation and protection and make sure that
our ‘common home’ is cared for.
Thank you!
by Christy Bellon Venezuela.
