SIQUIJOR, Siquijor, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- The Siquijor Provincial Solid Waste Management Board (PSWMB) is now conducting its second year of the Search for Best Zero Waste Barangay and Public Elementary School in the Province with one nominee for each category from each town.
Validation/Evaluation for Best Zero Waste Barangay was conducted on Dec. 27-29, 2022 and Jan. 3-4 for the Elementary Schools.
The team from the Provincial Solid Waste Management Board (PSWMB) talking to the barangay officials of Sandugan, Larena, Siquijor, while evaluating the barangay's compliance to the Zero-Waste policy and ordinances of the province. (RAC/PIA7 Siquijor)
The search is one way of giving due recognition to deserving and hardworking barangay officials, schools, and the community for their efforts and support in making their places attractive, clean, green, and orderly.
It also monitors municipalities' and barangays' compliance to R.A. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Wastes Management Act of 2000 and other environmental laws while adhering to the environmental ordinances of the province especially the "No Single-Use Plastic" ordinance of the province and the "No Open Burning Policy."
Provincial Environment and Tourism Officer Cle Bern Paglinawan said the PSWMB included public elementary schools in this year's search to inculcate among children and teachers the knowledge and awareness for environmental protection.
"School is the primary institution that gives education to the youth and therefore should be the model for best zero-waste practices," Paglinawan said.
It also showcases initiatives and best practices of the municipalities, barangays, schools, and the communities in terms of solid waste waste collection or management through the Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and residual waste containment areas (RCAs) in the absence of a sanitary landfill.
Parents, teachers, and pupils of the Larena Integrated School beautifying and cleaning the school as one of the nomiees for the 2022 Search for Best Zero Waste in the province. (RAC/PIA7 Siquijor)
Barangay nominees are Banban of Siquijor, Tubod of San Juan, Cangomantong of Lazi, Sawang of Maria, Manan-ao of Enrique Villanueva, and Sandugan of Larena municipality.
School nomines are Siquijor Integrated School of Siquijor, Catulayan Elementary School of San Juan, Simacolong Elementary School of Lazi, Logucan Elementary School of Maria, Libo Elementary School of Enrique Villanueva, and Larena Integrated School of Larena.
Big prizes of P50,000, P30,000, and P20,000 in checks await the winners with P10,000 as consolation prize.
Six special awards will also be chosen from barangays with best environment ordinances, resolutions and policies; best in implementation and adherence to the Province's plastic use regulation ordinance, best managed and most functional disposal facility, best composting facility; cleanest and most orderly municipality; and most efficient waste collection system.
The search is realized with the PSWMB forming a team of evaluators with representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Education (DepEd), Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), Provincial Zero Waste Task Force (PZWTF), and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA). (RAC/PIA7 Siquijor)
The Provincial Solid Waste Management Team visiting the public markets, stores, and households to see the vendors' and barangay folks' compliance to the "No Single Use Plastic" policy of the province. (RAC/PIA7 Siquijor)
