BAGUIO CITY (PIA) – The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in the region is building stronger network for the promotion of environmental protection.
The EMB-CAR recently gathered information officers and focal persons for the youth, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities from government agencies to share the various environmental laws to protect humans, animals, land, air, water and other resources.
The “Retooling on Environmental Laws” activity on August 30, aims to build a network for collaboration and information sharing that will magnify the EMB’s vision of fostering a clean and healthy environment. EMB-CAR OIC Regional Director Jean Borromeo said that with the diversity of participants, the collaboration of agencies will reach a wider range.
“As different as we are, we are all interconnected; our common goal is to serve the people effectively and efficiently, which requires a healthy and clean environment. This is our link, our environment; our collaboration allows us to help more people, while achieving our goals” Borromeo said.
The participants were briefed on Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act by Solid Waste Management Section (SWMS) OIC Mark Anthony Solano. Discussion was focused on the government’s campaign on zero waste, calling community members and agencies to participate in decreasing the use of plastics, and promote composting.
Walter Bimuyag from the Chemical and Hazardous Wastes Permits Section shared salient points of RA 6969 or the Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990, for the participants to understand the dangers on toxic substances and how the citizens should dispose this kind of waste.
The process on waste water discharge permits and permit to operate were explained by Mclister Abellera and Mark Benjamin Tangan from the Air and Wastewater Permit Section. Aubrey Agyao from the Environmental Impact Assessment Section lectured on the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) and Certificate of Non-Coverage.
The ECC certifies that a proposed project or undertaking will not cause significant negative environmental impact, and that proponent has complied with all the requirements of the Environment Impact Statement System. It also contains specific measures and conditions that the project proponent has to undertake before and during the project’s abandonment phase to mitigate identified environmental impacts.
EMB Information Officer Marcy Claire Luminang also informed the group of the integration of the RA 9512 or the Environmental Awareness and Education Act of 2008 in the school curricula.
“The environment is encompassing, and by working together, we can serve more effectively and efficiently, addressing our client’s needs and working for the Bagong Pilipinas slogan,” Borromeo said. (CVBT, PIA-CAR)
