ILIGAN CITY (PIA) -- The city government is gearing up its proactive efforts to address the pressing issue of solid waste management.
Mayor Frederick Siao shared in a media forum the various initiatives of the city government to improve waste management disposal practices and ensure a cleaner, more sustainable environment for the city and its residents.
Siao also clarified that the Central Material Recovery Facility (CMRF) in Barangay Bonbonon is still operating. He emphasized that it is not a dumpsite but rather a facility designed for material recovery, and its purpose is to receive segregated waste for recycling, composting, and repurposing.
“Ang CMRF, wala gipasara. Ang gipasira didto ang dumpsite [The CMRF was not closed. It was the dumpsite that was closed]," he said.
Siao also outlined the city’s short-term and long-term vision to address waste management issues. The city government will procure pyrolysis and thermal decomposition machines, which are technologies used to break down waste materials into valuable products such as fuels, chemicals, or biochar through processes involving heat and controlled conditions.
Additionally, the city is exploring waste-to-energy facilities and zero-waste initiatives, though implementation hinges on technological advancements and regulatory approvals.
Siao discussed their plans for a trip to Taiwan in March, where they have received an invitation from the Taiwanese government to learn more about their efficient waste disposal methods, particularly the community-driven garbage collection system.
The city government is also considering the establishment of a sanitary landfill and exploring partnerships with companies specializing in waste management technologies. The city is monitoring both the potential waste generation volume and the volume of waste processed at the CMRF to determine the size of a sanitary landfill.
Siao also encourages Iliganons to cooperate in waste management by taking responsibility for their household waste. He encourages residents to contribute by segregating, minimizing, and properly disposing of their garbage.
Furthermore, barangays are encouraged to be actively involved in waste collection and segregation initiatives at the community level. Specifically, they are tasked with segregating and collecting solid wastes that are biodegradable, compostable, and reusable, while the city government will collect non-recyclable materials and special wastes.
City Administrator Darwin Manubag emphasized that the collection of solid waste is the responsibility of the barangays, as stated in Section 17 of the Local Government Code, with segregation outlined in Section 10 of the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (Republic Act 9003).
Residents are also encouraged to create compost pits for their food waste, such as fruit or vegetable scraps, eggshells, and other biodegradable waste.
The city government also deputized ecology officers to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office to educate residents on waste segregation and ordinances regarding proper waste disposal and issue citation tickets to violators. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
