Dirtiest game in town: 'Zero Basura' Olympics

By TJ Burgonio - Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philipppines--It's the dirtiest game in town.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources on Friday launched "Zero Basura (Garbage) Olympics: A Race to Conquer Garbage in 300 Days," a program which offers recognition for best practices in waste management.

Towns, schools, subdivisions, markets and even industrial establishments can win awards just by managing their garbage well and converting them into something useful for their immediate environs.

The idea is to coax everyone to see the benefits of the 3Rs (reduce, recycle, reuse wastes), "fast-track" the implementation of the law (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) and to create a "garbage-free" landscape, said Environment Secretary Lito Atienza.

"This law teaches us that garbage is not a problem and can be used to benefit society if handled well. We should look at this law in terms of its benefits, and not at the penalties it imposes," he said during the launch at the Rizal provincial capitol in Pasig City.

The law, also known as Republic Act No. 9003, mandates the setting up of an ecology center in every barangay and segregation of wastes at every step, and bans open burning and open dumpsites, among others.

Citations, recognition

After 300 days, merit certificates will be handed out to barangay, subdivisions, schools, universities, stores, markets, hospitals, parishes, factories and industries for best practices in waste management.

Citations and recognition await the best practitioners among local government units in the 3Rs, closure of dumpsites and use of alternative technologies.

All will be evaluated by the DENR based on their compliance with the elements of RA 9003, namely, education, environmental institutionalization, engineering, enforcement and economics or program sustainability.

"At the end of the day, there will be cleaner surroundings, more greenery, savings in available disposal costs and earnings from fertilizers, crops and crafts," Atienza said.

The program is a brainchild of the DENR, Earth Day Network Philippines, National Solid Waste Management Commission, Zero Waste Recycling Movement of the Philippines, Mother Earth Philippines, Couples for Christ, the Philippine Business for the Environment and the Philippine Business for Social Progress.

Olympians play clean
"The 'basura game' is perhaps the dirtiest game there is. Olympians play clean," Grand Master Eugene Torre said in a brief talk at the launch, even as he stressed "unity" in all levels to ensure the program's success.

"Harmony is very important ... If there's harmony, in the end, we will come out victorious," he added.

Using its own funds, the DENR will train a representative from each municipality on ecological solid waste management, who in turn will train others in the barangay, according to Atienza.

"This is the only way we can spread as fast as we can," he later told reporters.

3-strike policy
Alongside this soft approach, the DENR and the National Solid Waste Management Commission will implement a three-strike policy against LGUs operating open and controlled dumpsites.

"The rest of the LGUs that will not take any step, the green courts are now waiting for them," Atienza said, referring to the courts that will be set up to hear and try cases concerning violations of the environmental laws.

"I don't relish filing cases, but I will go to that extent if they don't follow the law," he added.