Awareness of the Public about Solid Waste Management according to RA 9003

Republic Act 9003 also known as The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of
2000 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 was created with the aim to address the issues
and problems concerning solid waste. The public, or better said the people, will always
be the power house of every solution to a problem. In chapter VII, Miscellaneous
Provision, there are three sections in which public awareness is specified. They are:
Section 51 (Mandatory Public Hearing), Section 55 (Public Education and Information),
and Section 56 (Environmental Education in the Formal and Non-Formal Sectors).
The people have the right to know the plans. Various offices are tapped and
assigned to assure the implementation of this act respectfully speaking for the
awareness of the public; like: DECS, TESDA, CHED, DILG, PIA, NGOs, respective
boards, and private institutions. They aim to give the public awareness of the graveness
of the effect caused by solid waste. They concentrate on activities that are greatly
beneficial to the solution of the issues and problems of solid waste. They encourage the
public to endorse and patronize products and materials that is considered
environmentally acceptable. Hearings regarding the solid waste management plans are
made mandatory to be available to the public. They shall strengthen the integration of
environmental concerns in school curricula particularly with the emphasis on the theory
and practice of waste management principles.
The facts are made accessible and beneficial activities are encourage and
strengthened to persuade the people. Persuading the people to participate in its cause.
Educating the public is a fast way to address the issue. A sensible reason as to why is
because the people is also the cause of the issue. Abraham Maslow phrases this
awareness beautifully in his words, what is necessary to change a person is to change
his awareness of himself.