Calinog strengthens environmental protection drive
Regulation up on town’s ecological, solid waste management
Ecological and solid waste management efforts in the Municipality of Calinog, Iloilo will now be under the parameters of the town’s Environmental Code of 2009.
Subject of Municipal Ordinance No. 2009-05, principal author was Councilor Renato Casinao with Councilors Dino Dizon and Corabella Castro as co-authors.
The Code was primarily designed to ensure balance and ecological integrity of the town’s natural resources deemed by town officials as “essential elements for sustainable development of our environment.”
Calinog Mayor Alex Centena has since backed environmental protection here with commitment expressed to the rehabilitation, protection, preservation and conservation of the Jalaur Watershed areas.
The Code is specific on its regulation and prohibitions regarding improper waste disposal by households, institutions and commercial establishments. It further pushes for waste minimization “through waste avoidance” and “segregation at source.”
Such, the Code stated, “will facilitate reuse and recycling and this shall eventually reduce the cost of collection and disposal, conversion of garbage into resources and preservation of our remaining natural resources.”
Calinog’s Environmental Code of 2009 also provides proper disposal site or alternative technology for the management of the municipal residual waste. “Round-the-clock” cleanliness drive will be ensured if only to eradicate unsightly, uncovered and overflowing waste containers in streets, open and public places or spaces.
Quarry activities here will also go through stipulated terms of the Code with a more stringent process prior to grant of permits.
And with the regulation now established, incentives are up on proper waste management alongside fines and penalties for violators.
The Calinog Environmental Code of 2009 was presented before the 9th Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP) for procedural review.