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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DILG to LGUs: Prolong landfill use, surpass waste diversion targets for healthier environment

DILG to LGUs: Prolong landfill use, surpass waste diversion targets for healthier environment

Published Aug 6, 2025 01:45 pm
(MB FILE PHOTO)
(MB FILE PHOTO)
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) urged local government units (LGUs) to go beyond mere compliance and resort to effective waste diversion measures to reduce reliance on landfills and cut tipping fees for cleaner, healthier and more resilient localities.
Under Republic Act (RA) 9003 or “The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000’,’ the DILG explained that LGUs are mandated to divert at least 25 percent of solid waste from disposal facilities within five years of effectivity of the law, with incremental increases every three years. 
“Waste diversion includes composting, recycling, reuse, and other resource recovery activities,’’ the DILG expounded.
Currently, the DILG said that 1,053 sanitary landfills are operational nationwide with a combined capacity of 63.4 million cubic meters. 
With the 19,700 tons of waste received daily, the DILG said that 680 landfills serve multiple LGUs. 
“Regions with the most operational landfills include Cagayan Valley, Ilocos, Calabarzon, Northern Mindanao, and Davao,’’ the DILG noted.
At present, the DILG disclosed that 1,592 LGUs consisting of 77 provinces, 146 cities and 1,369 municipalities have approved the 10-Year Solid Waste Management (SWM) plans. 
The regions with the highest number of compliant LGUs are Eastern Visayas, Calabarzon, Western Visayas, Central Luzon, and Central Visayas.
The DILG also stated that the law requires every barangay or cluster to establish a materials recovery facility (MRF), citing that these facilities play a critical role in local implementation.
It added that the barangays must maintain proper waste diversion records to guide planning and program monitoring.
Based on the “2023 LGU Compliance Assessment,’’ the DILG revealed that 120 of the 187 LGUs in the Manila Bay Watershed area now operate both central and barangay-level MRFs with updated diversion records. 
These include seven in the National Capital Region, 49 in Central Luzon, and 64 in Calabarzon. 
“Among the best practices recorded are Cabanatuan City’s rapid composter that serves 45 urban barangays and Lipa City’s facility that converts shredded plastic into eco-bricks alongside its composting operation,’’ the DILG continued. 
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