Online system to monitor solid waste management launched

The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources launched an online monitoring system to intensify the monitoring of local governments’ compliance with the Solid Waste Management Law.

According to DENR spokesperson Usec. Benny Antiporda, environmental monitoring, and enforcement officers (ENMOs) will use the new system. DENR assigned ENENs to assist LGUs in monitoring violators of the Solid Waste Management Act.

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Under the previous system, monitoring reports reached EMB offices a few days after the incident. Still, with the new online system, real-time reporting is now available so that it can be addressed more quickly.

“They submit their report to the regional officers before now since we have this integrated information system online, dun na nila dadalhin ‘yung report nila, then ito goes directly to the central office of EMB-DENR for proper disposition. Just in case na critical ‘yung situation, hindi na siya dadaan sa proseso na marami pa siyang dadaanan,” he said.

This way, the incident can be acted upon immediately and get the local governments’ attention to their garbage problem.

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“If in case they will not act on it, what the DENR-EMB Central office will do is they will refer the case to the National Solid Waste Management Commision for appropriate action kasi ‘yan po ang proseso na ginagawa namin ngayon para once and for all mabigyan na ng atensyon ‘yung problema sa basura natin,” Antiporda added.

Antiporda explained the online monitoring system still has a second and third phase.

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“Yung phase 2 natin magkakaroon ng link ang local government unit at ang DENR-EMB. Kapag nagkaroon na ng link ‘yan kapag nakuha na natin ‘yung na monitor ng ating ENMOs ibibigay natin ngayon kay local government for them to implement ‘yung paglilinis o pagtanggal ng basura,” he said.

“Yung phase 3 naman is the private citizens. Private citizen could take pictures kung saan nila makikita ang basura at ipo-post lang nila dito sa ating website and at the same time dito po mag uumpisa ang interaction between the government and the private citizens in cleaning up the country,” he added.