Manila: The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has called upon local government units (LGUs) to bolster waste segregation and landfill management initiatives, highlighting Bayawan City as a consistent exemplar of effective waste management practices.
According to Philippines News Agency, Bayawan City in Negros Oriental has been recognized in a recent DENR announcement as a model aligning with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s vision. The President envisions LGUs as "laboratories of workable solutions and showcases of best practices." Environment Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna, during his visit to the Bayawan City Waste Management and Ecology Center (BCWMEC), praised the city for its adherence to the solid waste management practices mandated by Republic Act 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Cuna urged other LGUs to emulate Bayawan City's operational framework, emphasizing that the city's approach exemplifies the President's vision. He highlighted the importance of local leadership, community participation, and collaboration with the DENR in maintaining sustainable waste management and promoting healthier communities.
Historically, Bayawan City faced significant challenges with unsegregated waste, including plastic debris and open dumping, which extended to remote areas. However, the establishment of the 27.4-hectare BCWMEC in Sitio Omod, Barangay Maninihon, marked a turning point. The center features a sanitary landfill cell, a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), a composting unit, a special waste vault, and a septage management system, serving 28 barangays and approximately 117,900 residents, including five neighboring LGUs and three private firms.
Local officials explained that the transformation took years, beginning in the late 1990s when household waste posed health and environmental risks. Guided by the DENR, Bayawan adopted a Solid Waste Management Plan in 2002, emphasizing segregation at source, systematic collection, recycling, and composting.
Despite progress, Bayawan encountered compliance issues in 2023, receiving a Notice of Violation (NOV) from the DENR due to substandard effluent wastewater. BCWMEC Assistant Manager Irvin Joshua Elum noted the DENR's role in resolving the situation through technical advice, ultimately helping the city meet required standards.
Bayawan also implemented a Pay-As-You-Throw scheme, mandating designated stickers on residual waste sacks before collection, rejecting unsegregated waste, and penalizing violators. The city intensified its efforts with a significant information campaign and deployed deputized enforcers to curb illegal dumping and nighttime violations.
These initiatives have led to approximately 80 percent of waste being segregated before final disposal, facilitating the recovery of recyclables and reducing landfill-bound waste. Bayawan's efforts have earned accolades, including awards from DENR-Negros Island Region and the Presidential Lingkod Bayan Award from the Civil Service Commission.
Cuna emphasized that the key takeaway for other LGUs is the consistent enforcement of waste management laws, with active community involvement. "Bayawan shows us that environmental laws work when they are implemented consistently and when communities are made part of the solution. This is a model that other LGUs can learn from and adapt to their own local conditions," he stated.
