By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran said the barangay officials have a big role in implementing the Solid Waste Management Act, as the city government prepares to fully implement the “No Segregation, No Collection Policy” starting September 1.
Familiaran, chairman of the Solid Waste Action Team, yesterday led the turn-over of 14 units of shredder machines worth P5 million to barangay officials. The machines will used for shredding biodegradable waste.
The event was also attended by representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the city’s waste contractor IPM-CDC.
Familiaran said the “No Segregation, No Collection Policy” will not only encourage city residents to be responsible in cleaning their surroundings, but will also lower the costs of garbage disposal.
“Instead, the funds can be used for other services,” Familiaran said.
Violators on the first day of the implementation of the policy will not be penalized but will be given their first warning.
In the succeeding days, the vice mayor said they will start imposing penalties ranging from P300 to P1,000 depending on the number of offenses, followed by community service.
He said a solid waste management team will monitor the compliance of the policy.
“Under the law this is their role, even information education is supposed to be their responsibility,” Familiaran said, referring to the duty of the barangay officials in implementing the law./WDJ