TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - As part of the observance of Zero Waste Month, the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) Region 2 has conducted a series of information drives to educate the public, especially the young learners on  Solid Waste Management Program (SWMP).  

Forester George Canapi, Chief of the DENR-EMB Ecological Solid Waste Management Section, the advocacy team of EMB visited various elementary and secondary schools in the region to discuss salient provisions of the Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM) law.

He said the advocacy campaign aims to remind the public, especially the youth on their roles to achieve solid waste-free communities.

Canapi, in a radio interview over Radyo Pilipinas, also discussed the provisions of the Republic Act 11898 or the Extended Producer Responsibility Act of 2022, an act institutionalizing the extended producer responsibility on plastic packaging waste, amending RA 9003 or ESWM Act of 2000.

"The law requires large companies to adopt and implement policies for proper management of their plastic packaging wastes," he said. 

Canapi  said the law focuses on efficient waste management targeting waste reduction, recovery and recycling and the development of environment-friendly products by company producers.

Other regionwide activities conducted  to drumbeat Zero Waste Month include an environmental roadshow and forum featuring Pinas: The Basura Buster, cleanup drives, distribution of ESWM print materials and onsite evaluation of the municipal-wide search for the most environment-friendly barangay. (BME/OTB/PIA Region 2 with reports from DENR 2)