President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directs Parliament to align the Waste Management and Ecology Act with ‘modern waste management practices’.
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. told Congress that it’s time to update the Ecological Waste Management Act or Republic Act 9003 allowing waste-to-energy (WTE) and other modern solutions proposed for the waste problem.
“We still need to fix our waste disposal methods (We still need to fix our waste disposal methods). One systemic intervention is to update our 25-year-old Ecological Solid Waste Management Law, aligning it with modern waste management practices, such as energy disposal technology and waste treatment,” Marcos said on Monday, July 27, his time. Fifth State of the Nation Address.
Marcos’ directive mirrors what the Department of Environment and Natural Resources had he said earlier this year about allowing incineration technologies in amending the 25-year-old law.
The Philippines saw several dumping incidents in the first half of the year: from Binaliw in Cebu to New Carmen in Davao City. Waste-to-energy is now being promoted as a solution to the landfill problem.
In his speech, Marcos discussed the topic in the context of the issue of flooding in the country, inadequate flood control projects, and cleaning of waterways in Metro Manila. Garbage clogging waterways exacerbates flooding in urban areas.
“As we reform our solid waste management systems, we can draw inspiration from the solid waste management practices that are managed by the MMDA here in Metro Manila, such as waste recovery, processing, waste improvement,” the President added, referring to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.
Many environmentalists have long opposed the waste of energy, citing public health and safety. Waste-to-energy and incineration technologies remain illegal under the law. Allowing them would require Congress to work on necessary reforms.
Among the main recommendations of WTE in the country are 100 megawatt power plant in Tondo, Manila, and a large scale plant in New Clark City worth P4 billion. MMDA and the Department of Energy signed an energy waste agreement in January.
– Rappler.com
