REC calls on LGUs, media to rally behind solid waste management
The Regional Ecology Center (REC) multi-agency members are calling on the local government units and the media to rally behind the intensive implementation of solid waste management (SWM).
The REC members had their meeting April 17 to discuss the current situation of SWM and climate change and on how the REC can best respond to the concerns.
Regional SWM Chief Immaculate Juntarciego said that with the issuance of Executive Order 774 which details the tasks of agencies to address climate change concerns, the local government units become the prime movers in the initiatives.
She said that at this point the REC is out to make its role be felt by the LGUs especially in the compliance of SWM.
Dr. Johannes Paul, Team leader, GTZ-AHT SWM4LGUs, on the other hand, said that for the SWM campaign to reach its intended stakeholders, there is a need to level-off with the media on environmental issues.
The REC is mulling the idea of meeting members of the media in a Media Day, where issues and concerns can be tackled, approaches and strategies be discussed on how SWM stories specifically, can get into the pages of local dailies.
Dr. Paul said that given activities for their active involvement, the media can be rallied for strong support to environmental initiatives.
REC, as implied in EO 774, believed that focused and sustained information and education campaigns, as well as activities that greatly involve the media, can advance SWM implementation.
Meanwhile, Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 6 Director Bienvenido Lipayon said the office is preparing its participation in the nationwide Zero Basura Caravan which will kick off in Ipil, Zamboanga Sibugay on April 20.
As the coordination is done by the DENR central office, Lipayon said that the region will join in the intensive information and education campaign as the caravan passes through provinces, cities and municipalities in the Visayas. (PIA6/ESS)