MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is pushing for the construction of additional sanitation landfills in the country.
Environment Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said the Department will be needing P7 billion to kick start this project which targets 248 districts across the country.
Antiporda believes such a project would provide a swift solution to the garbage problem in the Philippines and use technology for the benefit of the environment.
Based on the record of the DENR Environmental Management Bureau, the country has a total of 187 sanitary landfills.
“Puwedeng gawing methane iyan. Iyong harvesting ng methane doon sa basura pwede ring gawin. Mayroon na tayong waste to energy [conversion],” Antiporda said.
The official said they only have P1-B for the Department’s recyclable projects.
They are planning to include the budget request for that project in next year’s proposal.
Payatas dumpsite has been one of the busiest sanitary landfills that cater primarily to Metro Manila.
However, the government ordered it closed in 2017.
At present, Metro Manila wastes are being dumped at Rodriguez dumpsite in Rizal.
Another concern, Antiporda said, is the rehabilitation of Manila Bay that is being delayed by continuous contamination from irresponsible garbage disposals in creeks.
Based on government data in 2016, more than nine 9,000 metric tons of garbage were collected from Metro Manila alone, followed by Regions 4A and 3.
About 57% of those collected were domestic wastes.
The World Bank in a 2012 study predicts that in 2025, garbage generation in the Philippines will increase by 165%. – MNP (with details from Rey Pelayo)
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