BAGUIO CITY – The Province of Apayao has received an environmental award on June 13 for practicing and sustaining best practices in adherence to Republic Act 9003 also known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Vice Governor Remy Albano in behalf of Governor Elias Bulut, Jr. and the Province of Apayao received the prestigious award from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Cordillera Director Ralph Pablo, Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management Atty. Noel Felongco and other DENR National and Regional officials during the Cordillera Environmental Summit 2017 at Albergo Hotel, Baguio City.
With the approval of the 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan of the Province and its seven (7) municipalities, Apayao has been recognized in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as the best implementer of RA 9003. The Municipality of Luna has been recognized as the best implementer municipality of RA 9003 in Apayao.
In his message, Vice Governor Albano expressed his gratitude for recognizing the efforts of the officialdom of Apayao steered by Governor Bulut and Congresswoman Eleanor Bulut-Begtang in their aim to faithfully comply with the mandates of the said law. Vice Gov. Albano reiterated the commitment of the people and the local leaders in living up on the plans approved by the Commission.According to Apayao OIC Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Dr. Candido Tuscano, one factor considered for the said award is the presence of constructed Material Recovery Facilities in Apayao. “Apayao has the highest or has the most numbers of constructed MRF ready to cater the needs of the Iapayaos,” he said.
Dr. Tuscano stressed Apayao has already two (2) municipalities which have an operational sanitary land fill. “The sanitary land fill of Municipalities of Luna and Calanasan are already operational. It is also worthy to note that it is only in Apayao that no case has been filed against a Municipal Local Chief Executive in compliance to the provisions of RA 9003,” he added.
It can be recalled that on April 25, the National Solid Waste Management Commission through a resolution signed by Undersecretary Atty. Felongco has approved the 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan of the seven (7) Municipalities of Apayao after said plans were presented and deliberated on March 22 at Mawanan, Calanasan, Apayao.
The 10-year solid waste plan of the Province of Apayao has also been approved in April 25, however with the additional requirements of submitting the consolidated data of the 7 municipalities including number of MRFs and list of disposal facilities within 90 days upon approval. So far, the Province has already complied with the additional requirement.
BY GERRIAHZON S. SEBASTIAN
