It’s the season of giving in a different way.

After a fierce typhoon which lashed out portions of Negros Occidental, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources quickly responded to the cry for help of its employees, in accord to the Bayanihan spirit.

The National Kalipunan ng mga Kawani ng Kagawaran ng Kalikasan (K4) extended its financial assistance to hard-hit victims of Typhoon Odette in Negros Occidental specifically CENRO Kabankalan. This aid was sent through DENR Western Visayas Employees Union (DENRWVEU) headed by Emma P. Delima, employees Union President of DENR 6.

President Delima with the Union’s Board of Directors acknowledged the financial assistance from National K4, amounting to Php93,830 deposited to the Savings Account of DENRWVEU. On December 29, 2021, the DENRWVEU issued a check amounting to P 100,000.00 for the Community of ENR Office of Kabankalan, represented be CENR Office Rosievel Dimatulac. This move had a clearance from PENR Officer Edgardo M. Rostata of Negros Occidental and was conformed by Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran.

“This amount of money cannot be accumulated by one hand in a day or two, it needs many helping hands. I thanked the National K4 President Atty. Alessandra Pimentel and DENRWVEU President (Delima) for their initiatives to help our rank and file hit by Typhoon Odette,” RED Duran said during the turnover of the check.

The messages filled with gratitude from PENRO Rostata and CENRO Dimatulac were sent to National K4 and DENRWVEU during the hybrid 2021 Yearend Employees General Assembly that was led by DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.

CENRO Dimatulac assured the higher officials they will send photos and other proof of liquidation to the DENRWVEU and to the K4 national for the money given to them.

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Published: 02 February 2022

We are starting them young.

The challenge of educating the citizenry to increase the awareness on proper solid waste management got the Environment Department crafting a competition that tapped on the creative side of the young ones.

Dubbed as “Make Your Own Toys Contest”, the team from Tayo Ang Kalikasan of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources launched the nationwide competition among children aged 7 to 12 years old. It actually encouraged upcycling by using recyclable and residual materials in creating children’s toys. But it prohibits toy designs/entries that included scraps from other existing toys (commercially available) or toys that are refurbished are not allowed.

In Western Visayas, John Dave Pilarca, a 12-year old kid from Antique province won as regional winner with his entry titled “Robo ‘Cap’: The Environment Saver.” Pilarca bested five other entries from the region. “Amo gid ri-a akon hilig. Super happy gid ako pagdaog ko,” Pilarca said in Kinaray-a when he learned that he won at the regional level.

The “Make Your Own Toys Contest” officially commenced on November 16, 2021 and ended on November 26, 2021 at exactly 10:00 PM. 

This event brought to light the probability of honing both the creative skills of the young ones while also fostering their love for the environment. The contest criteria include originality and creativity, execution, impact of the toy, and wise use of materials.

Regional winners were given a consolation prize of Php 2,500.00 and National Grand Champion received an amount of Php 20,000.00. The Grand Champion at the national level was from Region II (Cagayan Valley).

Upcycling is one good way to reduce the amount of wastes being dumped in landfills. It also teaches the young ones the value of practicing proper waste segregation which is in accordance with Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

“We are happy to start educating the young ones on the importance of proper solid waste management. I hope they would remember the lessons and make it their lifestyle to be environmentally-conscious,” said DENR 6 Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran.

Proper Solid Waste Management is one of the top ten priority programs of DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu that encourages all sectors to work together for a cleaner country.

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Published: 23 December 2021

Breathing in clean air is a human right.

One of the sources that daily pollute the air are the vehicles (also called mobile source) – cars, jeepneys, trucks and motorcycles. As such, there is a need to inculcate among drivers and commuters the benefits of having clean air.

In a bid to both educate the public and celebrate the Philippine Clean Air Month in November this year, two free garage smoke emission tests and a roadside inspection was carried out by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Region VI through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

The Metro Iloilo Airshed–Anti-Smoke Belching Unit (MIA-ASBU) IEC and Enforcement Team is composed of staff from the EMB, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and one consultant from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), who carried out the roadside inspection and free garage smoke emission test.

The team first conducted a roadside inspection in Brgy. San Antonio. Five out of the seventeen (17) vehicles that were flagged and tested failed while 12 passed. Those who failed the test were issued penalty tickets by the LTO while those who passed were given the Certificate of Emission Compliance (CEC). The 17 vehicles that were subjected to roadside inspection included ten (10) PUJs, two trucks, two L300 vans and three container vans last November 15, 2021.

Meanwhile, a total of thirty two (32) vehicles belonging to the Southern Oton Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (SOJODA) transport group availed of the free garage smoke emission test in Brgy. Cabanbanan. Eleven (11) of them passed while twenty one (21) failed to meet the DENR Standard for light absorption coefficient (K value 2.50/m). The test was conducted last November 17, 2021.

In Poblacion South, the Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association Oton (JODAO) transport group with forty six (46) vehicles availed of the free garage smoke emission test on November 19, 2021. Out of the total number, twenty eight (28) passed the test while eighteen (18) failed.

For the free garage smoke emission test, vehicles that were able to meet the Emission Standards for In-Use Motor Vehicles equipped with compression-ignition engine provided for under DAO No. 2003-51(2.50) k-value were also issued the Certificate of Emission Compliance (CEC) after the activity. But for those who failed, the TESDA Consultant advise the drivers/operators how to maintain or fix issues with their vehicles.

The free garage smoke emission test is part of the Information, Education and Communication campaign of the DENR – EMB 6 in pursuit of cleaner air. IEC materials were also distributed to both the drivers and commuters/passengers.

The activity also aims to inculcate the need for discipline among the transport group sector and help them understand the mandates of Republic Act No. 8749 (Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999). Moreover, it helped them become aware of the condition and status of their vehicle’s engines, the possible causes of their vehicle’s problems (smoke belching) and suggests a few manageable tips to avoid smoke belching.

The MIA–ASBU’s campaign for clean air began in CY 2010 and has been a strong support to DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu’s priority program.

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Published: 22 December 2021

The war on waste won’t be over until everyone learns the value of waste segregation, recycling or upcycling (transforming waste materials into new products), reusing, or refusing the use of plastics. The humidifier was one of the surprising find during the observance of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC) 2021 last September 18 led by the team of employees from the DENR 6’s Conservation and Development Division, Iloilo City Metro Lions Club and Youth Proyekto Philippines held at Esplanade 1. We only have one Planet Earth and we can work as one towards a clean and well-managed community when it comes to our own wastes. In our small ways, we can practice the simple 3Rs – reduce, reuse and recycle to keep a clean environment.

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Published: 15 December 2021

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) shall be the primary government agency under the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to formulate, integrate, coordinate, supervise and implement all policies, programs, projects and activities relative to the prevention and control of pollution as well as the management and enhancement of environment thus, the EMB 6 provides forty (40) sets of Solid Waste Management Equipment to forty (40) Local Government Units (LGUs) in the region.

Consisting of brand-new Biodegradable Waste Shredder, Composter and New Solar Powered 4G Network Camera Kit, this activity aims to help LGUs improve their compliance in increasing waste diversion of solid wastes pursuant to Section 8 of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

EMB 6 Regional Director Atty. RamarNiel V. Pascua said that providing LGUs with the equipment will transform the diverted wastes into assets as organic fertilizers and will also help increase the collection of recyclable materials.

SWM equipment receipts are the following; six LGUs in the Province of Aklan - Balete, Banga, Batan, Nabas, New Washington and Numancia; seven in the Province of Antique – Bugasong, Culasi, Hamtic, Laua-An, Pandan, San Remegio and Tobias Fornier; eight in the Province of Capiz – Dao,Ma-ayon, Mambusao, Panay, Panit-an, Pilar, Pontevedra, and Sigma; two in Guimaras Province – Jordan and Nueva Valencia; fourteen (14) in Iloilo Province – Alimodian, Balasan, Banate, Barotac Viejo, Concepcion, Dingle, Dueñas, Guimbal, Igbaras, Leganes, Lemery, Maasin, San Dionisio and San Enrique; and three in Negros Occidental – Moises Padilla, Toboso and Valladolid.

“RA 9003 is something we cannot close one’s eyes to, it is something unsuitable but a familiar sight to all of us,” Regional Executive Director Livino B. Duran said.

“This Biodegradable Waste Shredder, composter and other equipment’s is just a proof of action, continuously,” he added.

Furthermore, from CY 2012 to 2020, six (6) provinces in the region were provided with plastic molders; fifty-eight (58) LGUs were provided with Bio-composter with Shredders, forty-two (42) LGUs had received financial support for the establishment of their MRFs; forty-three (43) LGUs for the procurement of shredders; sixty-eight (68) LGUs for the establishment of MRF and purchase of equipment; seventeen (17) LGUs received support for the establishment and operationalization of ESWM for public markets; ten (10) LGUs for their Safe and Closure Rehabilitation of dumpsites; twenty-seven (27) LGUs for the National Eco-savers Program; and three (3) LGUs have received eco-bikes./DENR

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Published: 10 December 2021