During the Agos Summit on Disaster Preparedness at SM Aura in Taguig, Senator Loren Legarda said that the laws are "not implemented efficiently and effectively."
Legarda authored Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which requires the segregation of wastes.
She stressed that the government, and the rest of Filipinos, should be concerned about climate change, which continues to bring about calamities in the country.
"The Climate Change Commission must care. The Senate must care," Legarda said.
"People can care...may pag-asa sa pagbabago," she added.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda echoed Legarda's observation, noting that no one has been jailed or dismissed for violation or non-implementation of RA 8749 or the Clean Air Act, RA 9275 or the Clean Water Act, and RA 9003, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.
He added that the funds allocated for calamities in the national budget had been slashed by more than half, even as the country is continuously struck by various disasters and calamities.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Fund was cut down from P38.9 billion in 2016 to P15.7 billion in 2017.
Salceda pushed for the passage of his proposed measure that calls for the creation of an independent national authority that will handle the country's disaster risk reduction management system.
"Importante ang institusyon. Kailangan ng National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority," he said.
Source: GMA News | 8 July 2017
