The Department of Interior and Local Government – National Capital Region (DILG-NCR), through the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation – Program Management Team (MBCRP – PMT), facilitated the formulation and updating of the Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) and the Barangay Ecological Solid Waste Management Program (BESWMP) as mandated by R.A. 9003. The activity was held  on June 13, 2023, at Ramada by Wyndham Manila Central, in Santa Cruz, Manila. 

Attendees to the conference included City Environment and National Resources Office (CENRO) representatives, Punong Barangays, and the Kagawad Chairpersons for the environment from the 17 Local Government Units (LGUs) in Metro Manila. 

Resource persons from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) provided an overview of the ten-year SWMP and led the discussion on the formulation of the BESWMP. 

LGOO VII Raymond Gerard E. De Asis, Chief of the Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LGMED), commenced the activity by acknowledging the presence of resource persons and participants, emphasizing the importance of supporting LGUs in the formulation of their respective SWMPs.

DILG-NCR Assistant Regional Director Atty. Ana Lyn R. Baltazar-Cortez, CESO V, gave her opening remarks virtually, highlighting the significance of equipping local governments, Barangays in particular, with the knowledge and skills necessary to build disaster-proof communities.

She further discussed the issue of the increasing volume of solid waste generated in Metro Manila and its impact on the environment. She stressed the importance of fully implementing Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management of the Philippines, which mandates LGUs to create a 10-year SWMP.

Following Atty. Baltazar-Cortez’s message, Mr. Jhonmarie Caoyong from MMDA presented the key role Barangays play in the context of the BESWMP. He also expounded on the salient provisions of R.A. 9003, specifically the definition of solid waste, the roles of concerned National Government Agencies (NGAs) and LGUs, including the Barangays, in Solid Waste Management. He also discussed the structures and templates for formulating a SWMP.

For his part, Mr. Just Edrich Monter from DENR-EMB provided an overview of the 10-year SWMP, discussing its various components including the measures adopted for the processing of solid waste. He also touched on the criteria used in assessing LGU compliance with relevant environmental laws and regulations based on submitted data.

During the activity, participants sought clarification on a range of issues, including the roles and responsibilities of concerned entities as outlined in RA 9003, the guidelines covering the assessment of LGUs’ compliances under the  SWMP, and other concerns raised during the ensuing discussions. The resource persons from the MMDA and DENR-EMB agreed to review and resolve outstanding items that surfaced during the open forum. 

Mr. Rolando “Duka” Alvarez, Jr., Chairperson of Brgy. San Isidro, Makati City, presented the Best Practices adopted by his barangay in managing solid waste. The presentation aimed to inspire other barangays to undertake similar approaches in their own communities. 

In a concluding message, LGMED Chief de Asis expressed his appreciation to the attendees and resource persons and expressed confidence in the enhanced capacities of barangays to formulate their solid waste management plans.