Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Dr. Marlon Era, president of the Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP), signed a Memorandum of Agreement to conduct a Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS) in Bacolod City, at the Mayor’s Office on Monday, July 10.
This comprehensive understanding of the waste stream will enable the city to implement targeted and efficient waste management strategies, including waste reduction, recycling, and proper disposal, in line with sustainable development goals, Benitez said.
The WACS initiative aims to provide baseline information necessary for the development of a comprehensive and sustainable 10-year solid waste management plan for Bacolod City, a press release from the city government said.
By utilizing this valuable planning tool, the city’s authorities will be able to identify and implement effective waste management interventions based on reliable and accurate data. The study will encompass all waste sources in the city, including residential, commercial, industrial, governmental, and others, tracing their journey from generation to disposal, the press release said.
Bacolod City seeks to determine the volume of waste generated at its source, assess the potential for waste recovery, and gain insights into the actual volume of waste reaching the disposal sites through the WACS program, it said.
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlalawigan had passed a resolution authorizing Benitez to sign the proposed MOA with SWAPP.
The agreement includes a grant of P960,000 to fund the Waste Analysis and Characterization Study in Bacolod City.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mary Jane Ortega, former Mayor of San Fernando City, La Union, Lilia Casanova, an international environment consultant, Cathay Orbien, Project Management Support Logistics specialist, City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III, and Ma Fe Tresfuentes, Department of Public Services officer-in-charge.*