Probe into sanitary landfills sought in Senate after Binaliw, Cebu incident

Senator Imee Marcos on Monday filed a resolution seeking an investigation into the compliance of sanitary landfills with the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 after the incident in Binaliw, Cebu which resulted in the death of eight people.

In filing Senate Resolution No. 244, Marcos also seeks to determine the adequacy of existing laws in addressing the increasing volume of waste in the country. 

The senator said that despite the efforts of the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the local government units to implement Republic Act No. 9003, solid waste management continues to be hounded by challenges brought by the increasing volume of waste generation, inadequate waste management infrastructure, and varying levels of compliance with existing laws, rules, and regulatory standards. 

She said that countries such as Singapore, Japan, and Germany have already adopted waste-to-energy technologies, including controlled incineration systems, “which significantly reduce waste volume by up to 70% to 90%.”

These technologies, she noted, also conserve landfill space and generate electricity through the recovery of energy from waste. 

“[I]n light of rapid economic development, intensified industrialization, and population growth, problems arising from increased consumption, resource depletion, escalating waste generation, and recurrent flooding have become more pronounced, posing serious environmental, social, and economic risks,” the resolution read.

“[T]hese circumstances underscore the urgent need to study, review, and, where necessary, recalibrate existing policies and institutional mechanisms on solid waste management to prevent similar tragedies and ensure full compliance with the law,” it added. 

RA No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, states that it is a policy of the State to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program that ensures the protection of public health and the environment, utilizes environmentally-sound methods that maximize the utilization of valuable resources, and promotes resource conservation and recovery. 

The law also established the NSWMC, which is mandated to oversee the implementation of solid waste management plans, and prescribe necessary policies. 

On January 8, a landslide occurred at the Binaliw sanitary landfill in Cebu City. As of January 12, Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said the death toll increased to eight while 28 individuals remain missing. 

Meanwhile, 18 people are currently hospitalized following the incident. —AOL, GMA Integrated News