Garbage Situation in Kalibo is Hoped to be Resolved before the end of 2011
By: Mark Anthony N. Reyes

Panelists at the Kapehan sa Aklan on February 12. L-R: Mr. Allen Alcedo, Moderators Mr. Edwin Ramos of PIA, Mr. Odon Bandiola, SP Secreatry Festival, wherein many local and foreign tourist converge, 2) To develop the talents of the you. Ms Adorada Reynaldo, head of the ESWM, Ms Juliet Melgarejo, MEEDO head, former Vice Governor Atty. Kel Tolentino,  Mr. Abel Policarpio, Market Supervisor III and Kalibo Public Market Dr. Emit Custodio, Municipal Health Consultant of Kalibo.

Kalibo - The catastrophe of Payatas in 1999 that killed 234 people and where 32 families lost their homes was in the minds of the panelists in the Kapihan sa Aklan, held on 12, February 2011. The memory of this tragedy keep the Heads of MEEDO and the Ecological Solid Waste Management to keep pushing to resolve the issue of the Ecological Solid Waste Management problem to be implemented soon.The panelists on this week’s Kapihan were: Ms. Juliet Melgarejo, head of MEEDO, Ms. Adorada ‘Neneng’ Reynaldo, head of the ESWM, Dr. Emmet Custodio, the Municipal’s Health Consultant, and Mr. Abel Policarpio, Market Supervisor.

In coordination with Republic Act 9003, an Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2003, the municipality of Kalibo has created an Ecological Solid Waste Management Program under the Municipal Ordinance No. 2009-004. The program introduced the 5E’s; Engineering, Education, Environmental Organization, Enforcement and Equity which set as standards for its effective implementation.
According to Ms.Adorada “Neneng” Reynaldo, the program entails an environmental behavioral change. The people will become environmentally friendly by doing the good practices to our environment. Importantly, people will be educated for the proper segregation of solid waste.
Their office is now on a massive information dissemination drive for the first quarter of this year. They   particularly inform the vendors in the Kalibo public market and the shopping center The brochure and fliers are under approval as informative materials. They are hoping that the implementation of this program be achieve before the end of the year. Kool Earth, a private organization has the same advocacy and is a staunch partner of the local government of Kalibo
Ms Juliet Melgarejo, informed Aklan Media that the proposed dumping site in Balete is still under negotiation by the LGU and Gov. Carlito Marquez. However, the private clinic and funeral parlors in Kalibo must have septic tank for their pathological waste as mandatory.
This environmental concern is not only addressed to the government but to all concerned citizens. The government does everything to solve this problem but the cooperation of everyone is also required. /TE