MALACAÑANG said the government is now considering allotting a portion of the National Tax Allotment (NTA) of local government units (LGU) for solid waste management projects and intensifying its campaign to instill the culture of cleanliness in the grassroots level to mitigate flooding.
Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto made the announcement after his meeting with officials of several government agencies and representatives of LGUs on Thursday to discuss how to solve the country’s garbage problem.
At the dialogue, he stressed the important role of LGUs as ‘first line of defense’ in preventing improper waste disposal, which exacerbates flooding in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
‘Therefore, it is also important for LGUs to partner with the national government,’ Recto said in Filipino in a statement at the weekend.
Among the measures tackled in the discussions was the allocation of parts of the NTA of LGUs for solid waste management projects.
The proposal comes as the NTA of LGUs will get an 11-percent increase from this year’s P1.19 trillion to P1.32 trillion next year, pursuant to Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 and the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling of the Supreme Court.
Under Mandanas-Garcia, LGUs should get 40 percent of all government tax collections and not just internal revenue three years prior to 2024, when the SC handed down the decision.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said more functions of the national government will be devolved or transferred to LGUs with the implementation of the said ruling next year.
Recto said they are considering implementing the Cleanest Barangay Program to encourage barangay officials to implement proper waste management in their jurisdictions.
‘We need to have a widespread culture of discipline. As we said before, the trash you throw away improperly will come back to you,’ Recto said in Filipino.
Both initiatives will augment the Oplan Kontra Baha of the Department of Public Works and Highways with the support of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and LGUs, which includes upgrading drainage, dredging of waterways, and ensuring pumping stations remain operational.
Another highlight of the meeting was their conclusion that there was no ‘garbage crisis’ in Metro Manila, contrary to what was the position made by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) last week when it referred to the massive volumes of trash that clogged waterways.
‘Our meeting revealed that there is no garbage crisis in Metro Manila, but there is a crisis regarding improper waste disposal,’ Recto said.
Among those who attended the meeting with Recto last week were Environment Secretary Juan Miguel T. Cuna, Housing Secretary Jose Ramon P. Aliling, Public works Undersecretary Charles T. Calima Jr. and MMDA Chairman Romando S. Artes.
Other officials at the event were Laguna Lake Development Authority Acting General Manager Leopoldo V. Parumog, League of Cities of the Philippines President Mayor Francis M. Zamora and League of Municipalities of the Philippines President Mayor Faustino V.A. Dy.