West Visayas RDs sign memo of commitment for first REC
Regional directors of member agencies mandated to facilitate implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act, signed a memorandum of Commitment for the operationalization of the Regional Ecology Center (REC), the first in the region.
The REC is envisioned to orchestrate the plans, strategies and approaches in solid waste management, to become the information hub of the region, where the local government units, and other stakeholders can avail of assistance on SWM.
The signing was a highlight of the 2nd Regional Summit on Solid Waste Management held November 15-16, where the directors also gave recommendations on how to make the implementation of SWM more effective.
The signatory member agencies were represented by their directors present during the event, led by RANGE president PIA Director Atty. Janet Mesa, DENR RED Lormelyn Claudio, DA Dir. Larry Nacionales, DOH Dir. Lydia Depra-Ramos, DILG Dir. Evelyn Trompeta, DENR-Dir. Bienvenido Lipayon, DOST Dir.Rowen Gelonga and representatives of NEDA, TESDA, DepED, DPWH, and DTI.
Representatives from institutions and non-government organizations who signed the commitment included Melvin Purzuelo of Green Forum, Neonita Gobuyan of Ang Palibot, the University of Iloilo and others.
In a consultative meeting that followed the signing, the regional directors raised concerns on monitoring and compliance of the implementation of SWM, documentation of best practices and modeling of local chief executives in having political will to vigorously pursue implementation, and conducting of trainings for stakeholders to equip them with know how and skills. (PIA)