NORTHERN SAMAR, Philippines — The Provincial Government of Northern Samar is taking steps toward enhancing its waste management strategies with a Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS) Training held for the staff of the 24 Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Offices and the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office (PGENRO).
The initiative, spearheaded by the PGENRO in collaboration with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) Region 8, aims to equip local government units (LGUs) with essential knowledge and skills for conducting effective WACS.
Governor Harris Ongchuan emphasized the importance of the training in strengthening policies and daily practices related to waste management across barangays and households. “This is not only the work of the government; this is everyone’s responsibility,” Governor Ongchuan stated in his message, highlighting the collective effort required to achieve cleaner, healthier communities.
𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
The two-day event featured a series of discussions led by experts from DENR-EMB Region 8 and DENR-EM NS8 – Ms. Mary Joy A. Tapac and Mr. Ritzel I. Basiloy.
The training program included key topics: Solid Waste Sources, Components, and Characterization; Generator Based WACS; Sample Size Determination; Waste Generator Stratification; WACS for Non-Household settings; WACS End-of-Pipe strategies; WACS Plan for LGUs; Data Analysis for WACS Results; and Health and Safety Guidelines.
Mr. Jesus Acebuche, LENRO President highlighted the essence of WACS while Ms. Rowena Pabia, EMB Supervising Head, shared the new WACS guidelines and the status of LGU implementation of their 10-year Solid Waste Management Plans. She reminded LGUs which are still lagging in implementation, with approximately 50% of planned activities yet to be realized, emphasizing that their 10-year plans are evaluated not only by DENR-EMB but also by the Commission on Audit (COA) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG). She encouraged participants to report all environmental issues and concerns, not just those related to solid waste. The training emphasized that the new WACS guidelines are the only accepted methods for updating the 10-year plans and determining waste diversion strategies.
𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝
The WACS training is expected to significantly enhance the capacity of Northern Samar’s LGUs to develop and implement effective solid waste management plans. The data gathered from WACS will be crucial for integrating waste management strategies into Comprehensive Land Use Plans (CLUPs) and other critical planning initiatives.
Through the activity, Northern Samar is making significant strides in ecological waste management to ensure a cleaner and healthier environment for future generations. This is a reaffirmation of Governor Ongchuan and the Provincial Government’s commitment to “Serbisyong HCO” – Health, Capacity Building, and Climate Resilience – showing the interconnectedness of these priorities in achieving a resilient, progressive, and happy Northern Samar.
