Segregate waste at source—Pineda

Solution to Pampanga’s garbage problem

By Joey Pavia

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Pampanga Governor Lilia “Baby” Pineda has pushed for the segregation of waste as the effective solution to the province-wide garbage problem which derails her priority project on health care.
In her speech at the Solid Waste Management and Disaster Awareness Program at the Capitol’s Benigno Hall last week, Pineda said the segregation of garbage “beginning at home” would be the “best solution.”

She invited barangay leaders from the province’s first and fourth districts at the hastily-called meeting to immediately address the problem on solid waste.
“I have noticed that it’s not enough that I fix our hospitals and improve their services. We must first deal with the garbage mess which affects people’s health,” said Pineda in the dialect.
The first-term governor urged mayors and barangay captains to cooperate in the solid waste management program of the provincial government anchored on waste Segregation and use of Material Recovery Facility (MRF).
Pineda asked the Local Government Units (LGUs) and barangay councils to allot a portion of their funds for the waste management project in the province.
“This is not just the project of the province but the municipalities and barangays as well. They must give their share to ensure its success,” said Pineda.
Pampanga Mayors League (PML) President Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo echoed the sentiments of Pineda. He said the segregation of waste “would be the solution against the garbage problem.”
Pelayo urged PML members to “help the governor win the war.”
Armando Garcia, president and general manager of Metro Clark Waste Management Corp. (MCWMC), attended the meeting of Pineda with barangay captains. His sanitary landfill is a state-of-the-art final waste facility using German technology.
Pineda said the segregation of waste would allow the provincial government to save millions of pesos in the hauling and transfer of garbage.
Board Member Nestor Tolentino, chairman of the committee on environment, urged the mayors and village officials to help solve “this big problem.”