TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Cordillera office of the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB-CAR) recognized the local government through the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) for its Outstanding Sanitary Landfill Operation that paved the way for the effective and efficient implementation of solid waste management programs pursuant to the pertinent provisions of Republic Act (RA) 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
The plaque of recognition, together with a P50,000 cash award, was handed over to Tabuk City CENRO officials during simple rites held at the Paragon Hotel in Baguio City.
The cash reward will be allocated by the local government to sustain the implementation of appropriate programs, projects and activities for the enhancement of solid waste management and environmental protection efforts.
The EMB-CAR recognized the local government for its best practices in the operation of Materials Recovery Facilities, composting, as well as shredding, recycling, and the creation of crafts from the waste from the said facility.
EMB-CAR personnel had been frequenting the city to inspect the local government’s compliance to the indicators and standards in the operation of the sanitary landfill that paved the way for the giving out of the coveted recognition to the CENRO headed by Sally Lammawin and assisted by Goergina Padalla.
Tabuk’s sanitary landfill which is located in a 6.5-hectare in Barangay Dilag started operation in 2017 and can handle some 12 metric tons of residual waste per day.
Among the landfill facilities include landfill cell for residual waste, leachate collection or pond, gas vent system, materials recovery facility for recyclable waste and septic vault for household hazardous waste.
Further, Tabuk is the first local government in the Cordillera to operationalize its engineered sanitary landfill pursuant to the provisions of RA 9003 and the environmental compliance certificate (ECC) issued for the said purpose.
Mayor Darwin C. Estran֮ero commended the CENRO officers and personnel for the sustained improvements and innovation in the operation of the sanitary landfill and the implementation of effective and efficient solid waste management as the same is beneficial in the ongoing efforts to sustain the preservation and protection of the state of the city’s environment.
Mayor Estran֮ero rallied the residents to further enhance their practice of proper solid waste management by reducing, reusing and recycling their waste and for them to segregate their waste at source to lessen the volume of residual waste being dumped in the facility to help in prolonging the lifespan of the landfill.
Under the pertinent provisions of RA 9003, all local governments were mandated to close the operation of their respective open dumpsites and establish their own engineered sanitary landfill or controlled dump facilities for the preservation and protection of the environment and for the health of the people living in the said localities.
The EMB-CAR assessed that the operation of the sanitary landfill by the local government, particularly the CENRO, has been outstanding that paved the way for the issuance of the recognition.
