Solid Waste Management Program

What COA Found

Despite the continuous efforts of the NSWMC, the DENR through its EMB, and the LGUs in implementing RA 9003 to ensure the protection of public health and the environment, the program still needs collective and robust efforts from the implementing agencies to address the challenges prompted by the increasing trend of waste generation and to progress in attaining its goals and objectives.

The government has endeavored to improve its solid waste management by passing RA 9003. It mandated the DENR to provide secretariat support to the NSWMC in the implementation of the solid waste management plans, and prescribes policies to achieve the objectives of the National Ecology Center (NEC), which is in charge of information dissemination, consultation, education, and training of various LGUs on ecological waste management. In addition, the SWMP is expected to assist the LGUs in implementing RA 9003 particularly in developing their 10-year SWM Plan, closure and rehabilitation of dumpsites, and establishing Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), and the implementation of an environmentally sound disposal system. However, after two decades of implementation, the program may not be seen as progressively achieving its goals and objectives, as manifested by the steadily increasing volume of generated solid waste, including the many gaps noted in the program implementation.

Instead of reducing solid waste generation, it steadily increased through the years. We identified key challenges that led to this scenario, such as: the inconsistent implementation of waste segregation and waste diversion, wherein the significant presence of mixed wastes was found in landfills. This condition reduced the capacity of the MRFs for diversion, causing the waste volume in landfills to exceed capacity and shorten serviceable lifespans. In addition, there were no sufficient waste facilities and landfills to service the LGUs and barangays nationwide. As at CY 2021, the country has 11,637 total MRFs only servicing 16,418 (39.05 percent) out of 42,046 barangays; and 245 total operational Sanitary Landfills (SLFs) only servicing 478 (29.25 percent) out of 1,634 LGUs. Due to the limitation in disposal facilities, the operation of the illegal dumpsites could not be avoided in some LGUs. Further on the noted challenges was the non-establishment of the Solid Waste Management Fund, a special account in the National Treasury intended to fund the approved solid waste management plans of LGUs. Lastly, there were fragmentations in the program implementation causing the non-delivery of important interventions to generate reliable and accurate data and ensure proper operationalization. Hence, it is also notable that progress in attaining Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.5, which aims to substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling, and reuse by CY 2030, has not yet been monitored and tracked by the government.

On a positive note, we recognize the efforts of the DENR-EMB, which successfully decreased the number of illegal dumpsites in CY 2021. Likewise, establishing NEC in CY 2021 was an important step to move forward on the key administrative functions crucial to the program’s implementation. Its absence (or non-establishment thereof) for 20 years formed a vast gap in the effective and efficient administration of the program.

Why COA did this study

The country’s waste generation continues to rise with the increase in population, rapid economic growth, and industrialization. Hence, Republic Act No. 9003 (RA 9003), otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Act of 2000, was enacted in January 2001. It creates the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) to address the growing solid waste problem. The NSWMC, chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), shall oversee the program’s implementation.

More than 20 years after the passage of RA 9003, solid waste generation in the country has steadily increased from 9.07 million metric tons in 2000 to 16.63 million metric tons in 2020. The situation may be attributed to the frail enforcement and compliance with the law due to political, financial, and technical limitations of the local government units (LGUs) and implementing agencies. Many LGUs have yet to comply with establishing local SWM Boards, submission of SWM Plans and establishment of MRFs.

The COA assessed the (a) extent to which the Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP) achieves its goals and objectives; (b) challenges in its implementation; and (c) the extent to which the NSWMC, the DENR through the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), and other concerned agencies administer the program following established policies and procedures.

COA reviewed the program documents, accomplishments, and status reports; gathered information through surveys from the LGUs, waste facility workers, households, students, and teachers; interviewed key agency officials, municipal and city environment and natural resources officers (M/CENROs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and barangay heads; and assessed the extent of coordination with other stakeholders

What COA recommends

COA recommends, among others, that NSWMC: (a) conduct massive and continuing information, education, and communication (IEC) campaign, particularly on understanding the provisions of RA 9003 to improve compliance; (b) ensure the operationalization of MRFs, including waste diversion and effective record management; (c) ensure the prohibition on the use of open dumpsites or similar uncontrolled facilities; (d) coordinate with concerned agencies on the establishment of the Solid Waste Management Fund; and (e) coordinate with concerned agencies to help LGUs institutionalize an Environment and Natural Resources Office.