CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) and City Health Office Cagayan de Oro urged the public to maintain a clean environment to avoid water and food-borne diseases in celebration of World Environmental Health Day slated September 26.
In a media and health forum dubbed KonsulTayo, Dovee Cherry Geollegue, OIC Chief, Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division, (DENR-EMB) shared that the primary key to implementing Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 is segregation.
“When we segregate our waste, we are also minimizing the toxicity. If you know which ones are toxic and hazardous, then we can have a corresponding regulation on how to properly manage toxic substances and hazardous waste,” she said.
World Environmental Health Day pertains to the health of the people that are affected by the management of the environment.
Geollegue said they have found high Fecal Coliform in the water quality in bathing beaches in highly urbanized areas in the region such as Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. This comes from domestic waste, especially in households with no toilets, she said.
As to air quality, there are different sources of air pollution. One is the stationery sources coming from industries. The second is mobile sources from automotive vehicles. The third is area sources such as those cigarette smoking and garbage areas.
Based on emissions inventory in region 10, Geollegue said the main source of air pollution is mobile sources. That is why during the pandemic, when vehicles running on the road were lessened, emissions also lowered.
DENR has requirements related to permitting. True to all establishments that generate wastewater and solid waste, they are subjected to permitting requirements, she said.
Alan Neri, Sanitation Inspector, City Health Office- Cagayan de Oro City shared that their topmost priority is to ensure a healthy and safe environment in the working place in public and private sectors.
“Our role in city health, we conduct regular inspections on the establishments before the issuance of the sanitary permit. On top of that, we also make sure all employees and workers have secured health certificates which will also serve as their working permit,” he said. (JMOR/PIA10)
