ILOILO City – The Iloilo Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PENRO) enjoined all local government units (LGU) to take part in this year’s search for outstanding LGUs on ecological and sustainable waste management system or the “E+3S.”
Mitzi Peñaflorida, senior environmental management specialist of PENRO-Iloilo, said on Friday the competition would motivate LGUs to comply with the mandatory requirements of Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
“We want this competition to be participated by all our LGUs because through this, we can also check on how far they had gone in the implementation of the ecological solid waste management program,” Peñaflorida said.
“Former Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr. saw that by recognizing LGUs, our solid waste management programs can be sustained,” she added.
The LGUS shall be judged based on their environmental organization, education, engineering, enforcement, economic sustainability, pollution control program, health and sanitation, and urban space greening program.
These criteria will look into the function of the municipal solid waste management board, effectiveness of community awareness program, presence of segregation and collection facilities, and compliance to reforestation projects, among others.
“The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau, Department of Education, Department of the Interior and Local Government, together with PENRO and other non-government agencies will assess the local governments,” Peñaflorida said.
She added the assessment on LGUs will begin on Sept. 17.
First prize winner will get P300,000 cash prize; second place (P200,000); and third (P150,000).
Peñaflorida said all government units that will actively participate will receive added points for next year’s competition.
“The governor wanted to increase the cash prize to P1 million next year to really motivate our LGUs in their respective solid waste management program,” she added.
She said Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. backed the program as it will encourage cleaner surroundings that will help in the prevention of dengue.
The cash prizes can be used by winning LGUs to further strengthen their efforts on waste management and other environmental programs.(With a report from PNA/PN)
