Solid waste body okays 57 new management plans

The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) said on Friday it had approved solid waste management (SWM) plans of 57 local government units (LGUs), bringing the total to 114 for the entire year. Of the 57 approved plans, 32 are from the cities or municipalities in Luzon, 18 from Mindanao and seven from the Visayas. Regions 1 and 3 had the highest number of approvals with 10 each. In a statement, Benny Antiporda, NSWMC alternate chairman and Environment undersecretary, said the approvals were a “huge feat” in addressing the country’s solid-waste problems. “The approval of this new batch of 10-year SWM plans proves that we are on track in instilling responsibility and accountability among LGUs in managing solid waste,” he said, adding that “this will be a huge boost in our campaign to urge them to address the solid waste problem in their localities and to fully implement Republic Act 9003, or the ‘Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.’”