NEWS Feature: YPEC’s Participation in City Legislation

By Joseph Benedict

In lieu of the global concern of saving our environment, the City Government of Legazpi, consistent with its program as a developing city, promulgates some measures to join such concerns.

In connection with this, the Young Professional Environmental Club, as a duly organized body with the objective of helping also abides with such concern. To help the city where this organization was founded, YPEC seeks to help the Legazpi City Council promulgate an ordinance with the purpose of reducing the waste production throughout the city.

In doing so, YPEC Officers in coordination with Hon. City Councilor Rolly E. Rosal, Chairman for the Committee of Environment, Legazpi City Council have suggested that the proposed ordinance be scrutinized by the club. This would allow the club officers to suggest some things for the improvement of the said ordinance. Here are some of the recommendations/suggestions:

a. the proposed City Ordinance entitled AN ORDINANCE PROHIBITING THE DISPOSAL OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL EXCRETA AND EGESTA, CLINICAL, AND OTHER WASTES FROM HOSPITALS, CLINICS AND OTHER SIMILAR ESTABLISHMENTS, OBSTRUCTION OF WATERWAYS AND DUMPING INTO BODIES OF WATER, REQUIRING CERTAIN PERSONS, INSTITUTIONS, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS, LAND, AIR AND SEA TRANSPORTATION COMPANIES, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE UTILITY VEHICLES TO PROVIDE GARBAGE RECEPTACLES FOR REFFUSE AND THROWING LITTER AND GARBAGE OUT OF MOVING PRIVATE AND PUBLIC UTILITY VEHICLES, AND PROVIDING PENALTIES FOR THE VIOLATION THEREOF AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES should have an alternative title Anti-Littering Ordinance or Solid Waste Management Ordinance.

b. Section 2:21-22 of the proposed City Ordinance should also include the delegation of duties to Environmental Organizations, Public Safety Personnel, and Policemen.

c. Section 3 of the said City Ordinance should also state the budget, its source and its management for the implementation of this legislation.

d. Section 8 should impose higher fines in case of violations of the discussed Ordinance.

e. Also for uniformity of fines, the Ordinance should make the computation of fines 10% of the monthly income for big establishments. Furthermore, this Section should state also how many times a violator should do such violative acts before the punishment of Non-Renewal of Business Permit could be implemented.

f. Section 10 should include where the cost for rehabilitation of a particular affected area will come from.

g. Things like information dissemination should be clearly stated in the ordinance as well as the inclusion of NGOs in such undertaking.

On April 29, 2008, a Public Hearing was held at the Sangguniang Panglusod Session Hall, Legazpi City Hall Complex with attendees that included community health practitioners, hospital administrators, mall and restaurant managers, officials from different barangays, youth, CENRO, NGOs, media practitioners, academe, city veterinarian, and PNP. The following recommendations were presented and discussed:

a. Apprehension – citizen arrest can be applied and the person caught will be subjected to payment of fines and/or seminar.

b. Garbage receptacles should be increased in numbers throughout the city.

c. Billboards and signages should be used in terms of information dissemination.

d. The City Government should do separate collection of hospital wastes and other toxic elements.

e. The Committee on Education should include in their program massive information dissemination about this proposed City Ordinance.

f. The conduct of Seminars or community service on violators of this Ordinance.

g. Improved garbage collection – garbage trucks should have covers in order not to add to pollution.

h. In case a minor is apprehended for violation of this Ordinance, he/she shall be referred to DSWD for proper guidance.