Section 52.
 Citizens Suits - For the purposes of enforcing the provisions of The draft of the IRR shall be published and be the subject of public
this Act or its implementing rules and regulations, any citizen may file an
appropriate civil, criminal or administrative action in the proper courts/bodies
against:
The Court shall exempt such action from the payment of filing fees and
statements likewise, upon prima facie showing of the non-enforcement or
violation complained of, exempt the plaintiff from the filing of an injunction
bond for the issuance of preliminary injunction.
In the event that the citizen should prevail, the Court shall award reasonable
attorney's fees, moral damages and litigation costs as appropriate.
Section 54. Research on Solid Waste Management - The Department after
consultations with the cooperating agencies, shall encourage, cooperate
with, and render financial and other assistance to appropriate government
agencies and private agencies, institutions and individuals in the conduct and
promotion researches, experiments, and other studies on solid waste
management, particularly those relating to:
In carrying out solid waste researches and studies, the Secretary of the
Department or the authorized representative may make grants or enter into
contracts with government agencies, nongovernment organizations and
private persons.
Section 58. Appropriations - For the initial operating expenses of the
Commission and the National Ecology Center as well as the expensed of the
local government units to carry out the mandate of this Act, the amount of
Twenty million pesos (P20,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated from the
Organizational Adjustment Fund on the year this Act is approved. Thereafter,
it shall submit to the Department of Budget and Management its proposed
budget for inclusion in the General Appropriations Act.
Section 59. Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) - The Department, in
coordination with the Committees on Environment and Ecology of the Senate
and House of Representative, respectively, the representatives of the
Leagues of Provinces, Cities, Municipalities and Barangay Councils, the
MMDA and other concerned agencies, shall promulgate the implementing
rules and regulations of this Act, within one (1) year after its
enactment: Provided, That rules and regulations issued by other government
agencies and instrumentalities for the prevention and/or abatement of the
solid waste management problem not inconsistent with this Act shall
supplement the rules and regulations issued by the Department, pursuant to
the provisions of this Act.
consultation with affected sectors. It shall be submitted to the Committee on
Environment Ecology of the Senate and House of Representatives,
respectively, for review before approved by the Secretary.
Section 60. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee - There is hereby
created a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to monitor the
implementation of the Act and to oversee the functions of the Commission.
The Committee shall be composed of five (5) Senators and five (5)
Representatives to be appointed by the Senate President and Speaker of the
House of Representatives, respectively. The Oversight Committee shall be
co-chaired by a Senator and a Representative designated by the Senate
President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, respectively.
Section 61. Abolition of the Presidential Task Force On Waste Management
and the Project Management Office on Solid Waste Management - The
Presidential Task Force on Waste Management which was created by virtue
of Memorandum Circular No. 39 dated November 2, 1987, as amended by
Memorandum Circular No. 39A and 88 is hereby abolished.
Section 63. Report to Congress - The Commission shall report to Congress
not later than March 30 of every year following the approval of this Act, giving
a detailed account of its accomplishments and progress on solid waste
management during the year and make the necessary recommendations in
areas where there is need for legislative action.
Section 64. Separability Clause - If any provision of this Act or the
application of such provision to any person or circumstances is declared
unconstitutional, the remainder of the Act or the application of such provision
to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such declaration.
Section 65. Repealing Clause - All laws, decrees, issuances, rules and
regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are
hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Section 66. Effectivity - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved: January 26, 2001