DENR taps NGO for waste management program

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has enlisted the services of a non-government organization (NGO) to help in the effective implementation of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

In an orientation seminar held last Friday at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Nature Center in Quezon City, Sonia Mendoza of Mother Earth gave pointers to DENR personnel on how to make the National Ecology Center or the materials recovery facility inside the DENR compound vibrant and sustainable.

To implement RA 9003, the government formed the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) composed of 14 members from the government and three members from the private sector, one each representing the manufacturing industry, recycling industry and an NGO whose principal purpose is to promote recycling and the protection of air and water quality.

The law provides that a Natural Ecology Center under the commission be established to provide consulting, information, training and networking services for the implementation of its provisions.

The National Ecology Center is hoped to upgrade its performance in terms of facilitating training and education in integrated ecological solid waste management, establishment and management of solid waste management information data base, promote the development of a recycling market, provide/facilitate expert assistance in pilot modeling of solid waste reduction and auditing procedures. — Benny Enriquez