By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—The Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved an anti-littering ordinance on January 28, 2019, which penalizes violators with stiffer penalties.
In view of this, the Movement Against Plastic Pollution (MAPP), a group of young environmentalists in the province has lauded the main sponsor, senior Sangguniang Panlalawigan member Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc for pushing the said ordinance meant to observe proper waste management in the province, city, municipal and village levels.
“We thank sir Matthew for the passage of the ordinance which includes the banning of the releasing of balloons and sky lanterns,” said MAPP in their official Facebook page on the same day it was passed.
With the passage of Provincial Ordinance No. 2018-07-051, Mr. Manotoc urged concerned government authorities “To intensify the campaign on proper waste disposal to prevent ecological and environmental degradation and instill discipline, social responsibility, and awareness for the environment”.
The ordinance shall apply to all residents, transients, places of residence, commercial establishments and all areas within the territorial jurisdiction of Ilocos Norte.
As stated in the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act 9003, the newly-formed Provincial Solid Waste Management Board composed of the governor, all city and municipal mayors, council’s committee on environment, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Provincial Health, Engineering and others shall help implement the ordinance.
Under the approved ordinance, the throwing, littering and disposing of garbage or waste matter in public places and other areas not duly designated as disposal sites shall be fined between PHP500 to PHP1,500 in addition to rendering community service.
At the barangay level, concerned local authorities are also encouraged to have their own materials recovery facility where their constituents can put their garbage ready for pick up by garbage collectors.