BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews/26 May) — The regional office of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources here has started pushing for the adoption of solid waste management program in the Caraga Region after outgoing President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s call to speed up the creation of barangay-based material recovery facilities in Mindanao.
Edilberto S. Buiser, regional executive director, has reportedly issued an order to provide support to town officials for the implementation of their respective solid waste management program,
He told his 17 provincial and community field offices in four provinces and six cities that the program would contribute to address the problem on global warming and climate change.
Buiser’s order came after President Arroyo’s call on local executives, including barangay officials, in Mindanao to speed up the establishment of materials recovery facilities (MRFs) in every barangay during her recent visit in Mainit, a fishing town, in Surigao de Norte
The President reminded local officials on the importance of MRF in every barangay, where people bring their waste materials that can be recycled and reused. On biodegradable wastes, she said these can be converted into organic fertilizers to be used by farmers.
Reacting to the President’s call, Buiser urged his field officers to coordinate closely with the local government officials in their respective areas for the immediate establishment of MRFs in all barangays, including the training of community leaders on composting to have a ready source of organic fertilizers for their farms
“One of our tasks is also to intensify our information campaign, particularly on the proper way of composting biodegradable wastes,” Buiser said during the management conference at DENR’s regional office here Tuesday.
Based on 2007 census, Caraga Region has a population of 2,293,480 distributed in 1,310 barangays covering 67 towns in the provinces of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur, including the Dinagat Islands.
Buiser has also directed his four provincial and 13 community environment and natural resources officers to present their respective programs on global warming and climate change to governors, city and town mayors. (Alden Pantaleon Jr. / MindaNews)
