Monday, December 19, 2011

Prov'l. solid waste mgmt.board tackles issues and concerns raised on the 3rd qrtr. meeting


By: Irma A. Guhit

SORSOGON CITY, Dec. 19 (PIA).....Agreement to request the presence of of all Pollution Control Officers (PCO) of the 9 hospitals (2 private and 7 government hospitals ) here in the province of Sorsogon was one of the issues tackled today in the 4th quarter meeting of the Sorsogon Provincial Solid Waste Management Board (PSWMB) held here at the Training Center of the provincial capitol building.

Engr. Maribeth L. Fruto, provincial head of the Environment and Natural Resources (PENRO_LGU) said that the results of the evaluation conducted by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) , Department of Environment and Natural Resources RO V regarding the proper management and disposal of hospital wastes here in the province has yet to be forwarded to the PSWMB so that clarifications on the issues and concerns raised during the 3rd quarterly meeting held last September 6 of this year at Pilar be given the right support and that the PSWMB be informed of its intervention.

Tackled also was the waste minimization issues and how the province can implement the resolution made by some local government units and the province itself through the Sanggunian Panlalawigan in the banning of the use of plastics and other non-biodegadable materials usually used in shopping malls and markets that contribute to the volume of wastes that usually clogs water ways and canals.

Engr. Fruto said that there is now a need for all LGUs to submit their Waste Characterization Report and provide the PSWMB with the volume of waste each municipality is enerating so that initiatives on how these wastes can be managed be provided intervention through the program of the Department of Science and Technology.

Engr. Gerry Asuncion, DOST provincial head here has shown a sample of how non-biodegradable wastes can be converted into some blocks similar to those expensive ornamental blocks used for  garden and home pathways and eventually become a home backyard livelihood.

He said that they have made a research and  have shown the prototype of the solid plastic blocks made of non-biodegradable plastics converted to some useful materials that can be used as an alternative to cemented blocks which he said are expensive.

Asuncion explained that the prototype they have made just need some refinement and further study since the plastics that have been threshed and mixed with kerosine or used cooking oil and made into blocks have still to be introduced to the local governments for support and DOST is coming up with local production assistance to LGUs in terms of know how and technology.

Mayor Dong Gamos of Santa Magdalena suggested to Engr. Asuncion  to document the  process of the block making so that all LGUs can provide the needed support in endorsing this project and at the same time make use of the plastics that has become one of the biggest problems of LGUs in terms of waste volume just dumped everywhere.

A suggestion to make the provincial plan of monitoring activities and evaluation of LGU's implementation of the SWM will be the agenda of a special meeting of the technical working team of the PSWMB this second week of January 2012.

Present during the meeting was governor Raul R. Lee who provided the group an entertainment of the Himig Kapitolyo singing Choir, an early Christmas treat for the participants and the giving of certificates of recognition to LGUs who have hosted the quarterly meeting of the PSWMB.
(IAG- PIA SORSOGON)

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