BK PROMOTES HAGONOY’S SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT

Ana Terrese Junio

Bantay Kalikasan and Municipality of Hagonoy, Bulacan have partnered to produce information, education and communication materials on Solid Waste Management in an effort to help spur environmental consciousness in town.

A memorandum of agreement was recently signed by Hagonoy Mayor Angel Cruz, Jr. and Councilor Diane Cervantes representing the town, and ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. Managing Director Gina Lopez and Bantay Kalikasan Operations Manager John Paul Balayon for the environmental advocacy group.

Republic Act 9003 or Ecological Waste Management of 2000 requires all Local Government Units to establish an ecological solid waste management program within their jurisdictions.

“I am overwhelmed because Ms. Lopez supports a municipality [Hagonoy] she barely knows,” Mayor Cruz addressed.

Under the MoA, the Hagonoy LGU allotted funds for its information, education and communication campaign on solid waste management while Bantay Kalikasan will help in the production of IEC materials such as brochures, posters and the like.

Hagonoy Vice-Mayor Elmer Santos said their municipality has long been undertaking programs for the environment. He acknowledged Bantay Kalikasan’s assistance to implement their latest campaign.

Lopez, for her part, urged Hagonoy officials to clean their river and other bodies of water as this “will bring their city up.”

Former Miss Philippines-Earth Fire 2006 Diane Cervantes also thanked Lopez for inspiring more people to love the environment.