Ecological Solid Waste

Management Act of 2000

(RA 9003)
What is RA 9003?
An Act providing for an
ecological solid waste management
program, creating the necessary
institutional mechanisms, declaring
certain prohibited acts.
Salient Features of RA 9003?
 Creation of the National Solid Waste
Management Commission, National Ecological
Center and LGU Solid Waste Management
Boards
 Creation of multi-purpose Environmental
Cooperatives or Associations in every LGU
 Waste segregation, waste reduction and
recycling programs
Salient Features of RA 9003?
 Construction of Material Recovery
Facilities/Systems
 Conversion of open dumpsites to sanitary
landfills
 Integration of Ecological Waste Management
concepts in academic curricula for formal and
non-formal education
 Administrative and enforcement procedures
 Major Provisions of RA 9003?
The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of
2000 (RA 9003) provides the legal framework for
the systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid
waste management program of the Philippines,
which shall ensure protection of public health and
the environment. It emphasizes the need to create
the necessary institutional mechanisms and
incentives, and imposes penalties for acts in
violation of any of its provisions (NSWMC, 2005b).
Major Provisions of RA 9003?

The Republic Act 9003 specifically mandates all,

especially the local government units, to adopt a
systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid
waste management program which shall ensure
protection of public health and environment;
utilize environmentally sound methods; set targets
and guidelines for solid waste avoidance and
reduction; ensure proper segregation, collection,
transport and storage of solid waste;
 Major Provisions of RA 9003?
promote national research and development
programs for improved SWM; encourage greater
sector participation; retain primary enforcement
and responsibility of SWM with local government
units; encourage cooperation and self-regulation
among waste generators; institutionalize public
participation; and strengthen the integration of
ecological solid waste management, resource
conservation and recovery topics into the
academic curricula.
Weakness
• Administrative/management issues
Political will of the local chief executives play a
major role in the success of implementation of
SWM programs. Although SWM awareness is high
among them, there still seems a negative attitude
from the local officials. This negative attitude as
well as a lack of initiative and responsibility among
officials in carrying out the provisions of the law
definitely hinders its implementation.
Weakness

• Economic and Financial issues

While the national government encourages
full implementation of the law, it does not
provide any cost-sharing grants to LGUs to help
them address SWM issues. These in turn, have
hindered the full implementation of a
comprehensive solid waste management.
Weakness
• Technical issues
As mandated by the Act, each LGU, through its
solid waste management board, is tasked to create
a ten-year’s SWM plan, in order to help them carry
out the provisions of the law. However, according to
the NSWMC, most LGUs have communicated that
they do not have the technical capability to do this
on their own. They need a lot of help in the
formulation of their SWM plans from the national
government in coordination with other agencies.