The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources turned over shredder-composter machines to 26 municipalities in Bohol province on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (Leo Udtohan/Inquirer Visayas)
TAGBILARAN CITY — At least 26 municipalities received units of shredder-composter machines which were turned over on Wednesday to help them comply with Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Regional Director Maribel Munsayac said the equipment would help the local governments to manage their waste well.
“To comprehensively implement RA 9003 has been an uphill battle not just from the national government agency but most especially from the LGUs. However, the EMB has strengthened our partnerships with all LGUs to achieve the primary objective of the aforementioned law. We will continue to provide assistance,” Munsayac said in her speech.
Munsayac reiterated the importance of the shredder-composter equipment as it will reduce the amount of waste that ends up in sanitary landfills and transform the diverted wastes into assets as organic fertilizer and soil enhancers.
The organic fertilizer and soil enhancers, she said, are valuable to agriculture and horticulture.
She also appealed to the local governments to correctly use these machines, which cost around P1 million each.
The ceremonial turnover of the solid waste management equipment was attended by Gov. Erico Aristotle Aumentado, former Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., Munsayac, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Assistant Regional Director Charlie Fabre, and officials from the LGU beneficiaries.
The recipients were the municipalities of Alicia, Balilihan, Batuan, Bien Unido, Bilar, Calape, Catigbian, Clarin, Cortes, Dagohoy, Dauis, Dimiao, Garcia Hernandez, Trinidad, Lila, Loay, Loboc, Mabini, Maribojoc, Pilar, Sagbayan, San Isidro, San Miguel, Sevilla, Sierra Bullones and Sikatuna.
The equipment should be installed near the materials recovery facilities operated by the host local government and supplied with an independent electrical source fitted with an emergency shutdown device as a safety measure.