PAGADIAN CITY — Officials from the Environment Management Services (EMS) of the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy (MENRE) – BARMM provided on 28 November to 2 December 2021 technical assistance on the Formulation and Enhancement of SWMPs to the 16 LGUs in Basilan, Sulu, and Tawi-Tawi.

Conducted at Chandler Suites, Pagadian City, respective LGU Focal Persons were oriented about the development of a Solid Waste Management Plan, its Annotated Outline, and the salient features of the Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

“To capacitate our Local Government Units for the better implementation of RA 9003, we need to increase their awareness and knowledge of what’s in the law and how to put its principles into practice,” EMS Director Jalani Pamlian shared.

Chief Environmental Management Specialist (EMS) on Water Compliance and Monitoring Division Engr. Amier Ashan Aplal, Chief EMS on Air Compliance and Monitoring Division Engr. Abdulmaoti A. Akmad, Senior EMS Engr. Mahid Gayak and Senior EMS Sindatu Dimaraw served as resource speakers during the joint activity of the Environment Ministry and the Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG).

Under the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, every LGU must craft their respective 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan. MENRE’s role is to provide technical assistance for the to-be-developed solid waste management system, assist with capacity building, and information drive for the Act’s rules and regulations.