OVERVIEW OF THE EXTENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL

PROBLEMS IN THE PHILIPPINES CAUSED BY

IMPROPER SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL

COMMON CRIMINAL ACTS COMMITTED

UNDER REPUBLIC ACT 9003

(a) Section 48(1) Littering, throwing, dumping of waste matters in public places, such as roads, sidewalks,
canals, esteros or parks, and establishment, or causing or permitting the same;
(b) Section 48(3) The open burning of solid waste;
© Section 48(4) Causing or permitting the collection of non-segregated or unsorted waste;
(d) Section 48(6) Open dumping, burying of biodegradable or non-biodegradable materials in flood-prone
areas;
(e) Section 48(9) Establishment or operation of open dumps as enjoined in this Act, or closure of said
dumps in violation of Sec. 37;
(f) Section 48(12) Importation of toxic wastes misrepresented as “recyclable” or “with recyclable content”;
(g) Section 48(13) Transport and dumping in bulk of collected domestic, industrial, commercial and
institutional wastes in areas other than centers of facilities prescribed under this Act;

I – SECTION 48(1)

Violation of Section 48(1) is often committed by anyone. Mere throwing, consciously

or unconsciously, of a candy wrapper or butts of cigarette in the street is already a
violation of the said section since it can contribute to environmental problem. One
may wonder how it can cause environmental issue if it is just one piece of wrapper
or butt of cigarette. The argument is not as simple as it seems. Try to figure out if, for
instance, 2 or more million residents of NCR will all throw candy wrapper or butt of
cigarette in the street once a day for 1 month. It will cause pollution and severe
flooding. These solid wastes thrown to the streets, highways and waterways are
carried off by rainwater run-offs or flood water to the main streams or drainage or
even reach to the large bodies of water, like the manila bay, which will eventually
affect, economically, the livelihood of our fishermen due to the polluted water. They
will also build up or block the drainage affecting the normal flow of water that will
eventually cause severe flood in the area. This is the phenomenal problem of the
residents in the NCR. It has a negative impact in the economy of the affected areas.
Workers cannot report to work, business meetings are cancelled and factory
operations will be adversely affected due either to lack of manpower or materials
delayed delivery.

People committed this prohibited act since they are basically unaware of the
consequences of their unwise acts or probably because of their ignorance about
proper waste disposal. Oftentimes laziness is the root cause of improper garbage
disposal because people wont exert effort to find any trashcan provided in the area.

Stricter enforcement of this particular prohibited act calls for a strong political will.
Be it noted that under the law, the Local Government Unit shall be primarily
responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of Republic
Act 9003 within their respective jurisdiction. The question then “is the barangay
captain or mayor ready to clash with his constituents to strictly enforce the law even
if it will somehow affect his political standing because of the notion that the
enforcement is unreasonable since it is only a simple violation?

II – SECTION 48 (3)

Open burning of solid waste is common in rural areas where there is enough space
in the backyard for burning. All kinds of solid waste are mixed up and burned
together including plastics and rubbers. The open burning of waste causes air
pollution that will affect our health like lung diseases, abnormality in breathing and
other similar ailments.

Violation of this particular prohibited act is caused by lack of education, traditional

practice, Ignorance of the law and unaware of the effects of his unwise act.

III – SECTION 48(9(

Section 37 of R.A. 9003 prohibits against the use of open dumps for solid waste.
Normally, the violators of this section are local officials for their failure to comply
the mandate of the law to stop using open damps for solid waste. Three (3) years
ago the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported that there were 576 open dumps still
operating since R.A. 9003 was enacted.

The continued use of open dumps has direct impact on our climate in general as it
releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that may affect the abnormality of
weather condition. Worst, it will cause infections to humans. Pests and insects that
carry bacteria have direct access to the open dumps and spread the diseases by
inflicting bites to humans.

Violation of this section or non-compliance of Sec. 37 thereof is attributable to lack

of funds appropriated for the alternative methods of disposal allowed by law.