DENR to launch waste management info drive in Taal evacuation centers

WASTE MANAGEMENT: Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Benny Antiporda explains to senators the guidelines issued by the agency for the establishment and operation of waste-to-energy (WTE) facilities, a sustainable alternative to the traditional sanitary landfill. The hearing Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2020, was conducted jointly by the Senate Energy and Local Government Committees, chaired by Senators Win Gatchalian and Francis “Tol” Tolentino respectively. (Henzberg Austria/Senate PRIB)

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday said that it will launch an information drive on the proper solid waste management in evacuation centers across the provinces affected by the Taal Volcano eruption.

In a statement, DENR Undersecretary Benny Antiporda said that Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu ordered the information drive called “Task Force Basura,” which is also a joint operation consisting of all DENR regional offices.

“Secretary Cimatu gave instruction that we come up with a joint operation by all DENR regional offices in the country to assist all those affected by the Taal Volcano eruption,” Antiporda said.

“There will be representatives per region that will assist evacuees when it comes to environmental issues, particularly solid waste management,” the DENR official added.

In line with this, Antiporda urged the public to avoid donating single-use plastic cups, utensils and the like, as these are “environmentally unfriendly.”

“Plastic forks, spoons, cups, plates, and coffee stirrers may be convenient, but they are wreaking havoc on the environment,”

The information drive will be done in evacuation centers located in Cavite, Batangas, and Laguna, Antiporda said.

Alert Level 3 is still raised over Taal Volcano, which means there is a “decrease tendency towards a hazardous eruption.”

Edited by JPV