The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here recently launched an eco-toilet system in an effort to mitigate pollution in Manila Bay areas.

 

DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. stressed that the eco-toilet facility developed by the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) here aimed to mitigate potential contamination of river systems and coastal areas from E. coli, scientific 𝘌𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘪.

 

According to studies, sources of E. coli can include untreated human sewage, failing septic tanks, livestock agriculture, pets, wildlife, and illegal connections from home sewer systems to surface water.

 

The newly-introduced facility built at Sibul II Mangrove Nursery and Eco-Tourism Park in Orion, Bataan promotes the use of a waterless toilet or dry toilet system as an alternate solution to water-flushed toilets.

 

“Through this initiative, the volume of pollutants draining to water bodies along the Manila Bay area may be reduced, which will eventually help us in achieving the coliform limit of 200 MPN/100mL for Class C water classification,” Moreno said.

 

The executive director added that the concept of this first waterless toilet facility in the region supports DENR’s endeavor to integrate biotechnology as a powerful solution to address environmental concerns and mitigate effects of climate change.

 

Experts from the MGB here explain that the eco-toilet system works by separating the human waste from urine, which passes through the urine diverting dehydrating toilet bowl.

 

Upon separation, the nitrogen-rich solid waste are then covered with agro-industrial materials like fly ash, bentonite and zeolite, including organic rich matters such as shredded dried leaves and carbonized rice husks.

 

This creates an alternating layer of n-rich and c-rich materials, which act as basic components of fertilizer.

 

On the other hand, the urine is likewise treated and processed into a liquid fertilizer.

 

The DENR here is set to install these toilet facilities in other Manila Bay areas in the region. (-30-)

 

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here commended 169 personnel across Central Luzon for their exemplary performance and service milestones as part of the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE).

 

DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. extolled the commitment and dedication of the awardees, noting that they served as model servant-heroes who embodied values of responsibility, good governance and nationalism.

 

“Looking at all our awardees, I am certain that you all embody the characteristics of a lingkod-bayani—servant-heroes and servant-leaders in your field, who enter public service knowing deeply that it is a public trust that must not be broken,” Moreno said.

 

Meanwhile, Director Miriam Marcelo of the DENR Human Resources Development Service (HRDS) commended the DENR here for its initiative in recognizing and rewarding its workforce and taking the time to inspire other employees towards excellence.

 

Eighty-eight employees, who tendered 20 to 40 years of service, received loyalty awards, while 75 workers, who passed the Civil Service Commission professional and sub-professional examinations and various professional licensure examinations, and those who showed unparalleled dedication to the organization received special awards.

 

Service awards were likewise conferred to those who recently retired or are about to retire, with one posthumous award given.

 

Field offices of the DENR here held simultaneous awarding ceremonies with their respective workforce.

 

The annual awarding ceremony is part of PRAISE, which is designed to encourage creativity, innovativeness, efficiency, integrity, and productivity in the public service by recognizing and rewarding officials and employees. (-30-)

 

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reiterated its call for an intensified practice of proper waste segregation, through the regional debut of Pinas: The Basura Buster (PBB), a mascot meant to encourage the public in Central Luzon towards ecological solid waste management (ESWM).

 

In his message, DENR Undersecretary for Luzon, Visayas and Environment Juan Miguel Cuna noted that by strengthening public awareness towards ESWM, government’s efforts to promote proper segregation at source would free esteros and rivers from waste and other pollutants.

 

“I call on everyone’s support in this endeavor of making all communities in Region 3 trash-free. let us all work in the spirit of solidarity, and collectively pledge a commitment to reuse, recycle, and reduce our waste for a better future,” Cuna urged.

 

Meanwhile, DENR Strategic Communication and Initiatives Service (SCIS) Director Khalil Bayam delivered a keynote message during the activity at SM City Clark, emphasizing that this activity and the Pinas Basura Buster Mobile application aimed to strengthen values for proper waste segregation in line with the objectives of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act.

 

In a message delivered by DENR Region 3 Head Executive Assistant Glenn Paul Flores, Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. said the official launch of PBB mascot aimed to uphold the ideals of ESWM and sustainable management of trash.

 

“With the help of this new icon, our youth will rise to the challenge of ever-increasing solid waste and find creative ways of turning our trash into a resource,” Moreno said.

 

Aside from officially introducing PBB to the public, the event was marked with the awarding ceremony of the Hirayang Kabataan Kontra Basura, the search for Central Luzon’s best eco-youth organization.

 

Director Bayam and Flores of DENR, along with Pampanga Environment and Natural Resources Officer Arthur Punsalan, and SM City Clark Mall Manager Jerwin Jalandoni, likewise opened to the public a photo exhibit on the Year of the Protected Areas (YOPA).

 

The YOPA exhibit is open to the public until December 6, 2022. (-30-)

 

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently opened the Bayang-bayang irrigation pipeline system to ensure survival of forest plantations and to provide sustainable livelihood to locals in Barangay General Luna, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija.

 

DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. reported that the P12-million irrigation system would directly benefit 749 hectares of forest tree, agroforestry and fuelwood plantations jointly managed by Kadangdanglaan Farmers Association, Inc. and Samahang Itinatag Para sa Pangkalikasan at Pang-Agrikulturang Gawain, Inc.

 

“This new facility will expand developmental activities in our community and establish a greener future for our farmers and our environment. It holds a key in boosting our local economy and ensuring food security,” Moreno said.

 

The irrigation system, composed of 14 tanks and one filtration, is an agroforestry support facility (ASF) for the 10-year Forestland Management Project (FMP) in the more than 44,000-hectare Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed.

 

For his part, Carranglan Mayor Rogelio Abad expressed his thanks to the DENR and the JICA, noting that this endeavor would not only strengthen reforestation efforts in the area, but would likewise uplift the socio-economic well-being of the local community.

 

The Bayang-bayang irrigation pipeline system is one of the 13 completed ASFs under FMP in Nueva Ecija. (-30-)

 

 

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) here and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) recently opened the 3.2-kilometer concreted Calaocan access road in Barangay Burgos, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija to increase local economic productivity and ease the transportation of products from upland agroforestry farms.

 

DENR Regional Executive Director Paquito Moreno, Jr. said this P26-million worth access road was funded by JICA, the twelfth completed agroforestry support facility in the 10-year Forestland Management Project (FMP) in Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed (PCW), which will boost the protection and conservation of the more than 940-hectare forest tree and agroforestry plantations under the Pinagloriahan Sub-watershed and the 44,000-hectare Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed.

 

“This serves as a channel to increase local trade and productivity and to ensure access to social services, since it connects farm areas to market towns,” he said, noting that transportation cost will be reduced and post-harvest losses of local farmers will also be minimized.

 

The executive director thanked the JICA for supporting the project that would strengthen government’s efforts in the protection and sustainable use of forest resources.

 

For his part, JICA Senior Representative Yo Ebisawa said the access road would help local community and partner people's organizations to fast-track the reforestation of some denuded portions of the watershed.

 

“This project will benefit not only the farmers, but will help us address environmental issues. By planting more trees, we can help prevent floods and landslides, thus, increasing our resiliency against the changing climate," he said.

 

Launched in 2012, FMP has already rehabilitated 14,133 hectares of denuded forestlands in PCW.

 

In 2020, a 55-meter long hanging bridge was constructed in the same town, traversing the Deguireg River and connecting access roads to agroforestry plantations benefitting some 3,844 upland farmers and their families.

 

FMP integrates conservation and development-oriented activities with participation and capacity-building of local communities to rehabilitate degraded forestlands in three critical river basins, including Upper Magat and Cagayan in Region 2 and Cordillera Administrative Region, Upper Pampanga in Region 3, and Jalaur in Iloilo. (-30-)