BAGUIO CITY (PIA)--The Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) in the region is optimistic that local government units (LGUs) will be able to manage well their plastic wastes through the different interventions from the agency.

EMB- Cordillera Regional Director Ma. Victoria Abrera reported during a kapihan on Tuesday that they have released P6.5-million for each of the six provinces of the region for the procurement of plastic recycling equipment.

"Hopefully ay ma-reduce natin at ma-manage well natin ang atin pong plastic kasi alam naman ho natin na 'yan ho ang mahirap ma-degrade so it stays in the environment and it clogs the river," she said.

Abrera said the agency also provided P53-million to the LGUs for the procurement or establishment of Material Recovery Facility, distributed solar-powered CCTV cameras for the sanitary landfills, and other facilities for waste management.

 She assured the continuing assistance of EMB-CAR to the LGUs amidst the pandemic.

"Ang atin pong tinututukan ngayon since pandemic pa rin is the handling and management of toxic and hazardous wastes. As of February (2022), we have around 843 metric tons held and around 96% of these were already treated," she said.

As there is no  treatment storage facility in the  Cordillera, Abrera said that hazardous wastes are being transported to as far as Region 3 and Region IV-A. Their Central Office, she said, is planning to establish storage container vans this year to address the issue.

 Abrera also reported that Cordillera has high approval for Solid Waste Management Plans (SWMP). "Mataas ho ang CAR for the approval of Solid Waste Management Plans. Around 86%, higher than the national average which is around 65%," she said.

Under Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, LGUs, through their local solid waste management boards, are tasked to formulate their respective 10-year SWM plans consistent with the National Solid Waste Management Framework of the National Solid Waste Management Commission. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)