The provincial government of Negros Occidental and six of its local government units were recognized for outstanding Solid Waste Management (SWM) practices, during the SWM Summit initiated by the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau in Western Visayas.
The province of Negros Occidental, as well as Sipalay City, Kabankalan City, Brgy. Mambulac in Silay City, San Carlos City, Talisay City, and the municipality of Pulupandan were among the 27 recognized for best practices and efforts on materials recovery facilities operations, composting, upcycling and crafts production, sanitary landfill operations, closure and rehabilitation of dumpsites, and other innovative practices.
The other awardees are the province of Iloilo, municipalities of Alimodian, Ajuy, Lambunao, Carles, Concepcion and Oton, Iloilo City, Passi City, Guimaras province, the towns of Bugasong, Sibalom, Patnongon, Capiz province, municipalities of Ivisan, Dumarao, Dao, and Pan-ay, the Central Philippine University, and the municipality of Buruanga in Aklan.
The Provincial Environment Management Office also received a Plaque of Recognition from the EMB 6 for its outstanding practice in the implementation of solid waste management program in compliance with Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Program, the Capitol said Thursday, adding that the award was given Tuesday in Iloilo City during the SWM Summit 2022.
The EMB 6 also held the regional launching of the National Plan of Action for the Prevention, Reduction, and Management of Marine Litter (NPOA-ML) in the country at the Summit, with LGUs, environmental leaders, and private sector in attendance, led by Ret. M/Gen Benito Antonio De Leon, the DENR undersecretary for Enforcement, Solid Waste Management, Local Government Units Concerns, and Attached Agencies; EMB director, Engr. William Cuñado; EMB assistant director, Engr. Vizminda Osorio; DENR 6 regional executive director, Forester Livino Duran; and EMB 6 chief of Environmental Management and Enforcement Division, Forester Vicente Losbañes.
Osorio said Western Visayas is a pilot region for NPOA-ML, with full support from various government agencies, and the governors of Negros Occidental, Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, and Guimaras.
A memorandum of agreement signing to “Adopt an Ambient Air Monitoring Station” was also held, the EMB said, adding that video presentations of the LGUs’ best practices were shown, along with alternative technologies on waste diversion.
Meanwhile, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is supporting the ratification of the Basel Ban Amendment, which would prohibit the export of hazardous waste and other trash from developed to developing countries.
DENR Acting Secretary Jim Sampulna said in a statement that the Basel Ban Amendment would address the illegal traffic of imported hazardous waste into the Philippines.
In 2019, the DENR through the EMB, coordinated the return of 69 international container units of mixed wastes to Canada, which were illegally imported to the Philippines after being declared as waste plastics for recycling.
The DENR-EMB, in cooperation with the Bureau of Customs, had also successfully returned 6,400 metric tons of mixed wastes in Misamis Oriental to South Korea in 2020.
The Basel Ban Amendment, adopted by the parties to the Basel Convention, would restrain the member states of the European Union, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Liechtenstein, from exporting hazardous wastes either for recovery, treatment, or disposal to developing countries./CGC
