RA 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, provides the legal framework for solid waste management in the Philippines. It mandates local governments to implement comprehensive solid waste management programs, including waste segregation, recycling, and converting dumpsites to sanitary landfills. The act also establishes institutions like the National Solid Waste Management Commission to oversee its implementation. However, weaknesses include lack of funding support from the national government and technical challenges for local governments in developing long-term waste management plans as required by the law. Recommendations include stricter enforcement, more funding for environmental programs, and exploring low-cost and sustainable waste management solutions.

2. What is RA 9003?
An Act providing for an
ecological solid waste management
program, creating the necessary
institutional mechanisms, declaring
certain prohibited acts.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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).

6. 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;

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. Recommendations
• Impose stricter policies and penalties to public
officials who does not conform to the act
• Allocate more funds for the environment
protection programs and seek for non-
government institutions that advocates
environmental awareness.

12. Recommendations
• Treat environment protection as a constituent
function of the government.
• Seek for new, effective, cheap and sustainable
ways to manage solid wastes.
• Reduce budget allocated for military equipment
and weapons and divert it to funds for
environmental protection programs.