The City Government has recently reconstituted the Davao City Ecological Solid Waste Management Board (DCESWMB) to ensure the continuity of its plans and programs through Executive Order (EO) No. 53, Series of 2022.
EO 53, signed by Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte on October 3, 2022, provides that “the City must provide an efficient and effective system of solid waste and garbage collection and disposal under the policy of the state to protect and advance the right of people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature”.
It cited Section 16 of Republic Act No. 7160, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991, which states that the Local Government Units (LGUs) shall be primarily responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of Republic Act 9003 — Philippine Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 within their respective jurisdiction.
The DCESWMB was created through Section 3 of City Ordinance No. 044-02, otherwise known as the Davao City Ecological Solid Waste Management Board Ordinance of 2002, which states that the Board shall be vested with the policy and decision-making authority under existing laws.
EO 53 further states that the DCESWMB shall develop the City Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan that shall ensure the long-term management of solid waste as well as integrate the various solid waste management plans and strategies of the barangays in the city;
adopt measures to promote and ensure the viability and effective implementation of solid waste management programs in the barangays; monitor the implementation of the City Solid Waste Management Plan through its various political subdivisions and in cooperation with the private sector and NGOs; adopt specific revenue-generating measures to promote the viability of its Solid Waste Management Plan; convene regular meetings for purposes of planning and coordinating for the implementation of the solid waste management plans of the respective barangays; oversee the implementation of the City Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan.
The DCESWMB is also mandated to review the City Ecological Solid Waste Management Plan every two years or as the need arises, for purposes of ensuring its sustainability, viability, effectiveness, and relevance to local and international developments in the fields of solid waste management; develop the specific mechanics and guidelines for the implementation of the City Solid Waste Management Plan; recommend to appropriate local government authorities specific measures or proposals for franchise or build-operate-transfer agreements with duly recognized institutions, under R.A. No. 6957 – An Act Authorizing the Financing, Construction, Operation and Maintenance of Infrastructure Projects by the Private Sector, and for the Other Purposes, to provide either exclusive or non-exclusive authority for the collection, transfer, storage, processing, recycling, or disposal of local solid waste; provide the necessary logistical and operational support to the city in consonance with subsection (f) of Section 17 of the Local Government Code; recommend measures and safeguards against pollution and for the preservation of the natural ecosystem; and coordinate the efforts of the barangays in the implementation of the City Solid Waste Management Plan,
The DCESWMB shall consist of the city mayor as chairperson, the city administrator as vice-chairperson, and City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) officer-in-charge as action officer.
The members are the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 11 regional executive director, the Department of Public Works and Highways 11 regional director, the Department of Health 11 regional director, the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Environment and Natural Resources chairperson, the City Planning and Development Coordinator, Department of the Interior Local Government – Davao City director, Department of Science and Technology 11 regional director, City Engineer’s Office district engineer, City Health Officer, City Agriculture Officer, City Information Officer, City Legal Officer, Liga ng mga Barangay president, representatives of NGOs mainly concerned with the promotion of recycling and protection of air and water supply, Manufacturing/Packing Industry representative, and Recycling Industry representative. These offices will have to name their respective representatives.
The committee may also designate City Government of Davao employees and/or identify personnel, representatives from the NGO, the packing industry, and other stakeholders.
The CENRO shall serve as the secretariat of the DCESWMB and is mandated to handle all administrative and/or secretarial-related activities while a Technical Working Group shall be created to assist the committee in discharging its functions, whose composition shall be determined by the members of the committee.
A budget shall be allocated from available and appropriate resources to fund the operations and activities of the board, including meetings, seminars, training, capacity-building, and other administrative costs, subject to the usual accounting and auditing rules.
Get a copy of EO 53, Series of 2022 at https://dcstaging.davaocity.gov.ph/transparency/executive-orders/2022-2/. CIO
