AMADEO, Cavite – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) has released around PHP167 million in financial aid for the safe closure and rehabilitation of some 50 open dumpsite (OD) facilities in the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon (Calabarzon).
The DENR-EMB Regional Monitoring Group expects the local government units (LGUs) who received the grant to have closed down their ODs and now conducting bidding for the dump site rehabilitation in compliance with the strict implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the “Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.”
In an interview with the Philippine News Agency on Wednesday, DENR-EMB Calabarzon Regional Director Noemi A. Paranada said the DENR-EMB has released a total of PHP 145.47 million last April 10 for the safe closure and rehabilitation of some 50 open dumpsites (ODs) and controlled dump facilities (CDF) and another PHP 21.88 million for the upgrading of 45 Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) establishments and equipment for the year 2017-2018.
The LGUs which received financial grants are: Alfonso (PHP 2,195,225.80); Mendez (PHP2,750,981.18); General Mariano Alvarez (PHP9,500,000;, Silang (PHP9,500,000); and Amadeo (PHP 1,219,575.80) in Cavite province.
Other fund recipients include: Alaminos, Calauan, Famy, Liliw, Mabitac, Sta. Maria and Victoria in Laguna; while the LGUs in Batangas include Agoncillo, Balayan, Balete, Bauan, Calaca, Calatagan, Lian, Nasugbu, Sto. Tomas, Taal, Talisay and Tuy.
In Rizal Province, DENR-EMB also gave financial assistance to Antipolo, Binangonan and Jala-Jala; while Quezon – which has the most number of LGU grantees, namely, Alabat, Buenavista, Calauag, Candelaria, Catanauan, Gen. Luna, Guinayangan, Lopez, Lucban, Lucena, Macalelon, Mulanay, Padre Burgos, Panukulan, Patnanungan, Perez, Quezon, San Andres, San Francisco, San Narciso, Tagkawayan, Tiaong and Unisan.
The LGUs which received or yet to receive financial grants for the upgrading of their MRF establishments and equipment are the cities of Bacoor, Cavite, General Trias, and the towns of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo, Magallanes, Maragondon, Mendez, Rosario, Silang, Tanza and Ternate in Cavite; Cabuyao, Calamba and San Pedro cities in Laguna, and the towns of Cavinti, Famy, Los Baǹos, Lumban, Nagcarlan, Paete, Pakil and Pila;
Alitagtag, Cuenca, Ibaan, Lemery, Mabini, Malvar, Padre Garcia and San Juan in Batangas province; and Angono, Antipolo, Cardona, Morong, Pililla, Rodriguez and Tanay in Rizal;
Agdanganan, Burdeos, Catanauan, Dolores, Infanta, Lucena City, Padre Burgos, Pitogo, Plaridel, Rreal, Sariaya, and Tayabas in Quezon.
The financial grant is one of the agency’s strategic approaches to re-affirm its continued partnership with LGUs in pursuit of its mandate and thrusts on environmental management.
The DENR-EMB advocacy program urges LGUs to mitigate improper waste disposal flowing through the waters of Manila Bay; enforce proper waste segregation; regulate the use of plastics, and mainstream the use of recyclable and biodegradable materials to their households and communities.
Paranada said they will soon do the rounds of checking and monitoring on the compliance by the LGU grantees. (Gladys Pino/PNA)
