COTABATO CITY — The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) – BARMM witnessed the first hauling of hazardous wastes by Notre Dame Hospital (NDH) in Sinsuat Avenue, United Doctors Hospital (UDH) in Notre Dame Avenue, Cotabato Medical Specialists Hospital in Quezon Ave., and Cotabato Puericulture Center and General Hospital in Don Rufino Alonzo St. all in Cotabato City, BARMM.

MENRE Environment Management Services (EMS) Director Ustadh Jalani M. Pamlian led the inspection and was present during the hauling of hazardous wastes from four (4) private hospitals in Cotabato City last October 13 and 24, 2022. This is the first-ever conduct of such activity by any medical facility in BARMM. The hazardous wastes from these hospitals are mainly pathogenic or infectious wastes [M501] including pathological wastes (tissues, organs, fetuses, bloods and body fluids), infectious wastes and sharps totaling 6.295 metric tons.

The hospitals partnered with Maya Med Waste Tacurong of Kalandangan, Tacurong City, an accredited Treatment, Storage and Disposal (TSD) facility for the treatment of the hazardous wastes. Ecollect Waste Trasport, an accredited transport company, was hired for hauling services.

As prescribed by RA 6969, otherwise known as the “Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990”, all entities generating hazardous wastes are responsible and held liable for their generated hazardous wastes up until such time that a duly-accredited Treatment, Storage and Disposal (TSD) facility issues a certificate for the treatment. No transport of hazardous waste is allowed unless the transporter has secured permits from MENRE.

Pursuant to the Act’s Chapter 7, Section 26 (2), a waste generator shall continue to own and be responsible for the hazardous waste generated or produced in the premises until the hazardous waste has been certified by the waste treater as had been treated, recycled, reprocessed or disposed of and Section 27 (1) states that no transport of hazardous waste shall be allowed unless prior permit is secured from the MENRE.