CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA) — Citing the importance of proper waste segregation, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-10 reported that northern Mindanao grapples with an estimated 1,800 tons of garbage collected daily.
“Based sa atong data na-collect gikan ni sa atong mga LGUs, sa Rehiyon 10, ginaingon nga ang weight or kabug-aton sa atong basura nga gakakolekta kada adlaw is around 1,800 tons kada adlaw,” said EMB-10 Chief of Ecological Solid Waste Management Chief Jessie Osin.
(Based on the data we collected from our LGUs in Region 10, it is reported that the weight or amount of garbage collected daily is around 1,800 tons per day.)
He likened the volume of waste to “1,800 dump trucks a day throughout the region ang ginalabay kada adlaw (1,800 dump trucks a day are being disposed of throughout the region every day),” emphasizing the need for immediate action to manage the region’s growing waste problem. EMB-10 continues to advocate for stricter waste segregation practices to mitigate the environmental impact and reduce the strain on local landfills.
As the Philippines observes Zero Waste Month, a national initiative established through Presidential Proclamation No. 760 in 2014, Osin said this month serves as a reminder of the shared responsibility to care for the environment by promoting awareness and action toward sustainable waste management practices. He added that the goal is to instill habits that minimize waste generation not just in January but every day.
Moreover, Osin said the month-long observance sees collaborative efforts across communities, private sectors, and local government units (LGUs). Activities include cleanup drives, webinars on social behavior change, capacity-building programs, and waste exchange initiatives that instill the values of reducing, reusing, and recycling.
LGUs, in particular, play an active role in driving these efforts, enforcing ordinances such as bans on single-use plastics and promoting sustainable alternatives.
Despite these efforts, Osin noted the importance of household-level education on waste segregation and proper disposal. “Dili rani action sa gobyerno, but every household should manage their own waste; dapat i-practice jud nato ang segregation,” he said, noting that education at the household level is essential, as proper waste segregation can significantly reduce the volume of waste that ends up in sanitary landfills.
(This is not just the government’s responsibility, but every household should manage their own waste. We really need to practice segregation.)
Osin further added that the government can only do so much, and the real change begins at home. He stressed that Zero Waste Month is more than a call to action—it is a reminder of the power of small, consistent efforts in achieving a cleaner, greener future for the country. (ALAO/PIA-10)
