Saying it’s time to walk the walk and talk the talk, Foundation University will attempt to work with government agencies in implementing environmental laws in Dumaguete City.
For starters, the goal would be to effect the law prohibiting the burning of garbage. Engr. Marlon Tanilon, dean of student affairs and chair of the university’s environment information and education committee, said the initial target area would be a one- kilometer radius around the campus.
The widespread burning of garbage in Dumaguete has been identified as one of the causes of air pollution in the city and is also a cause of acid rain.
Burning of garbage is prohibited under Republic Act 9003 or the Integrated Solid Waste Management Act and the Dumaguete City Ordinance 115 and is punishable by a P200 fine or imprisonment of not more than one year, or both.
“Based on our studies, 70-80 percent of garbage in Dumaguete is biodegradable. We plan to encourage the setting up of compost facilities in the neighborhood or we could gather the organic waste material and convert them to compost fertilizer in the university’s own composting facility,” Tanilon said.
The University will also encourage and teach urban gardening as well as the establishment of ecology centers in every barangay.
Engr. Mark Espedilla, dean of the FU College of Agriculture, said Dumaguete produces 60.4 tons of waste every day, equivalent to 22 dump trucks.
Of this volume, only 10 percent is recycled or composted at the city dumpsite while the rest is dumped at the dumpsites, or on private land, creeks or openly burned.
“In ten years Dumaguete will have 220,000 tons of solid waste,” Espedilla warned.
RA 9003 requires that solid waste must be reduced at source. Recyclable materials must be recovered and residual waste should be disposed of properly. The law also provides that any citizen may file an appropriate civil, criminal or administrative action in the proper courts against violators of this law.
