Local officials and heads of Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) are expected to review existing or draft new ordinances and/or proposals for funding to enhance their locality’s environmental conditions.
This, after the Environment Management Bureau (EMB) in Region IV-A (Calabarzon), in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), gathered last week some 46 officials and representatives from the region’s 19 local government units (LGUs) for a consultation on water and solid waste management.
In an interview, EMB Region IV-A Director Noemi A. Paranda said the activity was in line with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s remarks on his State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA) relative to environmental protection, “and to assist the cities in enhancing their environmental conditions”.
Paranada said the event, held at the Pontefino Hotel in Batangas City on Aug 14, aims to “obtain the status of the LGUs’ implementation for septage and sewage management and served as an opportunity to discuss the relevant provisions of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Wate Management Act”.
The participants were informed on the status of the river quality and monitoring for principal rivers in the provinces of Batangas, Cavite, and Quezon, which include Calumpang, Pansipit, Iyam-Dumacaa, Imus, Ylang-Ylang-Rio Grande, and Cañas.
Discussion likewise evolved on the salient provisions, prohibitions and penalties under the Phils Clean Water Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, as well as the Capital Expenditure estimation on sewerage system from 2017 to 2032 from the Manila Bay Business Development Plan by the Manila Bay Rehabilitation and Conservation Enterprise (MBRACE) and the National Sewage and Septage Management Plan (NSSMP) targets by 2020.
Resource speakers during the Batangas’ event were Paranda, together with DENR Region IV-A Director Atty. Maria Paz G. Luma, Water Quality Monitoring Activity (WQMA) Focal Person Michael Dapdapig, Water Permitting/Monitoring Section Engr. Rolly Cuasing, Regl Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) Coordinator Corazon C. Gasapos, and Water Quality Management (WQM) Section Representative Girliesina Sebarillo.
Antipolo CENRO head Violeta Faiyaz said Monday that they are now preparing their proposal for a funding assistance from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the conduct of feasibility study for their septage system. (PNA)