The NPOA-ML aims to provide a blueprint to enhance the current efforts of the country in resource and waste management and to bring additional lens to marine litter issues and the control of additional leakage of waste into bodies of water. It has an overarching goal of “Zero Waste to Philippine Waters by 2040”.

 

Regional Executive Director Gwendolyn Bambalan of DENR Cagayan Valley expressed optimism that the region can reduce the volume of solid waste that will end up in sanitary landfills with the NPOA-ML’s goal of zero waste in the Philippines by 2040 through shared responsibility, accountability and participatory governance among stakeholders.

 

“I am confident that with the active participation of all sectors of the society particularly the local government officials and with the NPOA-ML that we adopted, we can control the rapidly increasing levels of marine litter in the country’s waterways and marine environment. I am appealing to everyone to help us advocate waste management solutions through a science-based and systematic approach to various sources generating pollution, both land-based and sea-based,” RED Bambalan emphasized.

 

The adoption of the NPOA-ML is embodied in DENR Memorandum Circular 2021-10.

 

EMB Regional Director Nelson Honrado acknowledged the local government officials for taking the lead in their barangay and community levels for the continued implementation of Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM). He also stressed that practicing proper waste segregation would redound to reducing marine litter.

 

The launch was highlighted with the recognition of 13 cities and municipalities for their outstanding performance in ESWM.

Sta. Fe in Nueva Vizcaya and Peñablanca in Cagayan were awarded outstanding in Material Recovery Facility operations.

Aritao and Dupax in Nueva Vizcaya, Jones in Isabela, and Gattaran in Cagayan were recognized for their outstanding practices in composting operation.

 

Camalaniugan and Allacapan in Cagayan were cited for their outstanding practices in sanitary landfill operations and in the closure and rehabilitation of dumpsite, respectively.

 

The cities of Santiago and Cauayan and municipalities of San Isidro in Isabela, Sta. Praxedes in Cagayan, and Kasibu in Nueva Vizcaya were also recognized for their outstanding practices in upcycling and crafts production.#