LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Ilocos Norte Provincial Office will be continuing their convergence program on solid waste management for this year to promote proper waste segregation, collection, and disposal in the province.

According to Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Victor Dabalos, this program is a partnership between the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the local government units (LGUs) in the province.

“Itong convergence initiative na ito ay naglalayong i-mobilize and mga TUPAD groups ng DOLE, kasama yung mga lokal na opisyal ng barangay level to implement ang solid waste management, lalo na sa proper segregation and disposal ng waste sa kanilang respective barangays,” Dabalos explained.

He added that the role of the DENR and the DILG will be to monitor and to make sure that that proper waste management in their areas are being followed and sustained.

In this project, they will also do regular checks on the sanitary landfills and dumpsites of the municipalities.

Moreover, he says with this program, he hopes that proper waste segregation will be implemented in the households so only residual waste will be dumped into landfills.

“Ang waste management, it should really start at home, kaya dapat i-practice ng ating kailian ang proper waste segregation. Siguraduhing i-separate ang mga biodegradables sa mga residual waste o plastic para hindi rin mahirapan ang mga garbage collectors na segregate pa yung mga basura,” Dabalos added. (JCR/MJTAB, EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)