The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Central Visayas has directed its personnel in Oriental Negros to assist local government units in complying with its earlier directive to put up a sanitary land fill as mandated by Republic Act 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

The DENR in Region 7 had earlier sent letters to 21 cities and towns in Oriental Negros reminding them of their obligation to establish sanitary landfills on or before Jan. 26.

The letter signed by former DENR director Julian Amador indicated that mayors of cities and towns who do not comply with the law would face administrative charges.

Dumaguete-based Community Environment and Natural Resources officer, Charlie Fabre, told the DAILY STAR that, the latest order from regional director Celso Loriaga was for DENR personnel in the province to "evaluate existing dumpsites and possibly assist in the compliance" of the earlier order of the agency.

Fabre said under RA 9003, which took effect in 1991, LGUs should upgrade their open dumpsite to controlled dumpsite, and on or before Jan. 26, 2006, all LGUs should have already built their respective sanitary landfills.

But Fabre said that at present, the 21 LGUs in the province have yet to comply with the law.

He said the only LGUs spared from the order are the cities of Bayawan, Bais, Canlaon and the town of San Jose.

Fabre, however, admitted there is difficulty in putting up sanitary landfills because it would cost millions of pesos.*

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