Bontoc woes eased with 10-year garbage plan ok

By Alpine L. Killa

BONTOC, Mountain Province - The local government’s efforts to find solution to the garbage problem here came into fruition with the approval of its 10-year solid waste management (SWM) plan for the year 2019 until 2029. 
    This does not only cover the four central barangays but even outskirt barangays of the municipality. 
    On Dec. 3, 2020, Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey led the team in final deliberation of the 10-year SWM plan with the NSWMC executive committee. 
    With Mayor Odsey were Sangguniang Bayan member Alsannyster Patingan, environmental management specialist Roger Agcapen from the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office, and a representative from the Provincial Environmental Management Unit.
    The National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) in resolution 1030-A, aeries of 2020 dated Dec. 9, 2020, approved the 10-Year SWM plan of Bontoc.
    The local government received a copy of the NSWMC resolution on May 18, 2021. 
    Odsey shared the struggle of Bontoc in finding a solution to the garbage problem. He recalled filing of the writ of kalikasan against Bontoc in August 2012 for its open dumping of waste along the Chico River in Sitio Matoytoy-ok, Barangay Caluttit has challenged Bontoc and how the Court of Appeals ordered the closure and rehabilitation of the dumpsite.
    Odsey and the Sangguniang Bayan, had just started their term that year.
    They barely had two months to plan, prepare and rehabilitate the dumpsite and find means of waste disposal.
    The filing of a case against Bontoc and the closure of the town’s dumpsite challenged the municipal government to come up with plans and programs to address the garbage problem and solid waste management.
    The 10-Year SWM will not only cater to the central barangays comprising Poblacion, Bontoc Ili, Caluttit, and Samoki; but to riverside cluster (Barangays Bayyo, Talubin, Bontoc and Tocucan), Albago consisting Alab Oriente , Alab Proper, Balili and Gononogon, and Upland cluster (Barangays Guina-ang, Mainit, Dalican, and Maligcong). 
    To minimize the generation of residual waste, the Sangguniang Bayan passed municipal ordinance 212, s. 2013 in December prohibiting use of plastic bags for dry goods, regulating its utilization on wet goods, and prohibiting use of styrofoam.  
    The Bontoc local government took the lead to implement the ecological solid waste management system such as segregation at source, segregated collection, the establishment of materials recovery facilities (MRFs) and other recycling and composting methods. 
    With support of the community, the Bontoc LGU instituted programs towards the goals of closing the decades-old dumpsite and instilling a new sustainable paradigm on solid waste management.
    These included Oplan pera sa basura program; formation of the Bontoc Green Police; establishment of eco-parks; senior citizens eco-brick and eco-brick-making project; no plastic no styrofoam policy and development of residual waste processing facility.  
    To heighten awareness and participation of the public on proper waste management, the municipal government launched “Oplan pera sa basura” tapping all schools in the municipality to participate.
    This project involved students and the faculty to collect recyclable materials such as empty plastic bottles, cans, papers, and bottles that are not being bought by the junk shops.
     To ensure sustainability of the project, the municipal government partnered with four junk shop owners in the locality to collect and buy all recyclable waste and non-saleable materials.
    The non-saleable materials such as broken bottles, glass, and ceramics shall be given to the Bontoc –LGU for processing and recycling.
    Odsey added even with limited budget and resources of municipal government, it  worked out development of SWM facility at Am-ancho, Bontoc Ili.
    It is also where the temporary residual containment, composting and bottle/plastic shredding areas are located.
    The senior citizens of Bontoc came up with a sustainable livelihood project in 2015 from the P1 million budget provided by the Dept. of Social Welfare and Development as start-up capital.
    Through the processing facility of the Bontoc –LGU, plastic and cellophanes were shredded while bottles were crushed and  turned over to senior citizens to be made into construction materials such as eco-brick and hollow-blocks.
    In 2016, the hollow blocks made out of the project were sold at a cheaper price to beneficiaries of the core shelter project of the DSWD in Barangay Can-eo, Bontoc. Also, eco-bricks, hollow-blocks, and glass bricks derived from the project of the senior citizens were used in the construction of the new municipal building and its façade.
    These initiatives of the Bontoc LGU in partnership with the senior citizens earned them the DSWD national awards, Best Regional Partner, People’s Choice Award, Most Environmental-friendly Project, and Best Livelihood for Special Projects. 
    Another waste reduction measure adapted by the municipality was bottle brick making which was participated in by schools, non-government organizations and residents.
    Bottle bricks were used in construction, beautification, and landscaping of parks and other facilities.
    Environmental Management specialist Roger F. Agcapen of the Bontoc –LGU said the municipal government had been doubling its effort in the campaign and implementation of proper waste disposal.
    Agcapen said while the 10- year SWM plan was submitted for approval by the NSWMC, Bontoc has been practicing what was incorporated in the plan.
    Prior to the closure of the dumpsite in 2012, the municipality has been practicing segregation at the source.
    This was intensified when the municipal government in partnership with the Green Police and in coordination with the respective barangay officials started to inform the public how to segregate their garbage.
    The Green Police who are volunteers from the four central barangays, wake up early in the morning and proceed to the waste collection area of their respective barangays and at the town market to make sure bags of garbage brought there by the residents are properly segregated. Thankful of their great contributions, the municipal government gave P1, 200.00 monthly honorarium to each Green Police.     As of this writing, there are 61 Green Police provided with honorarium by the Bontoc LGU. 
    He added that in partnership with other stakeholders, the municipal government continuously implements the “No segregation, no Collection”, and encouraged the public to compost biodegradables at home and practice the re-use, reduce and recycle (3Rs). 
    Odsey in an interview solicited support and compliance of the community in the implementation of the SWM plan saying this was for the good of constituents and the municipality. 
    He said practicing segregation of biodegradable, special, recyclable, and residual wastes in the household, office, school, and establishment; and complying with no to plastic bags, cellophane, and atyrofoam policy may be small and simple gestures, but contribute much in solving the problem of garbage disposal in the locality.