IN WHAT looks more like an effort to hit two birds with one stone, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hinted at a solution that would address two major urban concerns — flooding and energy supply.
During his fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) Marcos cited the need to adapt to the modern-day technology by amending the 25-year-old Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (Republic Act 9003) to help address the country’s flooding woes.
Marcos finds it rather logical to align RA 9003 with modern waste management practices, such as waste-to-energy and waste treatment technology.
“Katambal ng paglaban sa katiwalian kaugnay ng mga ghost at substandard na flood control projects, naglunsad din tayo ng Oplan Kontra Baha sa buong bansa,” the President averred.
“Sa kabila ng mga ginagawa nating ito, kailangan pa rin natin iwasto ang ating pamamaraan sa pagtapon ng basura,” he added.
Citing efforts of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Marcos called on local government units, non-government organizations, businessmen and the general public to take part in activities like cleaning of esteros and drainage systems.
The President then bragged about cash-for-work programs, which according to him also contributed to the massive cleanup of over 200 esteros and waterways across the country, covering Ilocos Sur, Cagayan, Camarines Sur, Negros Occidental, Cebu, Capiz, Iloilo, Lanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Misamis Oriental, and Bukidnon.
“As we recalibrate our solid waste management systems, we can draw inspiration from the solid waste management practices being championed by the MMDA here in Metro Manila, such as waste recovery, processing, and upcycling,” he said.
The President cited the Carmona Sanitary Landfill of the 1990s, which he said is now the MMDA Nature Park.
“More than a multi-purpose green space, it shall soon be the base of its high-level disaster preparedness training and simulation exercises,” Marcos quipped.
