Aurora governor lauded by NSWMC for effective waste management

BALER, Aurora, June 26, 2011-Aurora governor Bellaflor Angara-Castillo who is a staunch environmental advocate was conferred a recognition by the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) for pushing the implementation of the national government’s solid waste management program here Yesterday.

“Angara-Castillo’s exemplary leadership, performance and contribution in achieving the objectives of Republic Act 9003” or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act in the province serves as a great help in protecting the environment,” Emelita Aguinaldo, NSWMC executive director said.

During the awarding ceremonies at the session hall of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan yesterday afternoon, the plaque of recognition was handed to Angara-Castillo by Ma. Alma Ferareza, NSWMC senior environmental management specialist. The conferment of the commission’s recognition was one of the highlights of the “Gawad Punong Lalawigan para sa Kapaligiran” (GPLK) rites here.

Angara-Castillo rallied her co-Aurorans to help preserve the province’s dense forest cover, saying that the provincial leadership is singularly focused on protecting and preserving the environment and to maintain the image of Aurora as the province with the largest forest cover in the entire country.

Angara-Castillo gave out P325,000 in cash to individuals and establishments who stood out in the provincial government-initiated incentives program for clean and green advocacies.

The GPLK is the provincial counterpart of the national government’s Gawad Pangulo Para sa Kapaligiran which was implemented then discontinued in 2005 reportedly for lack of funds while the provincial government of Aurora continued the program in line with Angara-Castillo development agenda which include environmental protection.

Traditionally, the GPLK is being held every February but it was moved to June in line with the observance of Environment Month.

The awards cover various categories such as cleanest and greenest municipality (urban and rural), cleanest and greenest barangay (urban and rural), cleanest and greenest school (small elementary school, big elementary school, high school and college/university category), cleanest/greenest church (Catholic and non-Catholic category), cleanest/greenest store/food establishment, cleanest/greenest hotel/recreation center, best office Ecological Solid Waste Management Program implementer (without compound and with compound), best utility ESWMP implementer and special awards as most environment-friendly mayor and most environment-friendly school.

The panel of judges was composed of engineer Cristina dela Cruz, Josephine Leander, Rosanna Querijero, Sherylle Bernadette Natividad, Domingo Gonzales Jr., Geroldo Custodio, Rogelio Baturi, Rommel Lombres, Roderic Torre and Dennis Caanawan. 

Emerging as cleanest and greenest non-Catholic church was the Holy Place Pentecost Church, Inc. based in Dingalan. The HPPCTI, led by its president Ruth G. Sanchez received P5,000 in cash and a plaque.

The HPPCTI, a perennial winner of the yearly search, and which has a congregation in Barangay Caragsacan, Dingalan also maintains outreaches in Barangays Ibuna and Dikapanikian.

Placing second was the Iglesia Ni Cristo Church in Ma. Aurora.

In the Catholic category, the St. Vincent Ferrer Parish Church in Ma. Aurora topped the list.

Mayor Tito Tubigan was conferred the most environment-friendly mayor while the Bazal Elementary School, Ditumabo ES and the Canili National High School were hailed as most environment-friendly schools.

The other awardees were the municipalities of Baler, Ma. Aurora and San Luis and Casiguran (cleanest and greenest municipality, urban category), and the towns of Dinalungan, Dipaculao, Dingalan and Dilasag (rural category); Barangay Calabuanan, Baler (cleanest and greenest barangay, urban) and Barangays Zone 1, Dinalungan and Mucdol, Dipaculao (rural) as cleanest and greenest barangay.

Adjudged as cleanest and greenest schools (small ES category) were Diome ES, Bazal ES, Estonilo ES, Kadayakan ES and Ramada ES (Ma. Aurora), Mucdol ES and T. Molina ES (Dipaculao) and Paltic ES (Dingalan) and Diagyan ES (Dilasag); San Luis Central School, Dinalungan CS, Ditumabo ES, Baler CS, Casiguran CS, Dipaculao CS, Dilasag CS, Ma. Aurora CS, Dingalan CS and Bianoan ES (big ES category) and Don Mariano Marquez National High School, Juan C. Angara NHS, Canili NHS, Calabuanan NHS (Baler), Mucdol NHS (Dipaculao), Ramada NHS (Ma. Aurora), Dilasag NHS, Lual NHS (Casiguran), St. Patrick Academy (Dingalan) and Mayor Cesario Pimentel NHS (high school category) and Mt. Carmel College (Baler), college/university category;

Bahia de Baler 1, La Cez Foodhaus and Bay’s Inn Restaurant (cleanest and greenest store/establishment); Bahia de Baler 2, Dinadiawan Beach Resort and Lorentess Resort (cleanest and greenest hotel/recreation center); provincial tourism office, governor’s office and provincial administrator’s office and provincial social welfare and development office (best office ESWMP implementer without compound); peace empowerment and advancement center for employment and provincial veterinary office (with compound) ; Rhealyn Santelises, Eufemia Bonifacio, Evelyn Samonte, Adelina Gonzales and Marlyn Valenzuela (best utility ESWMP implementer)

Fourteen heavy-duty grass-cutters imported from Japan were also handed out during the ceremonies.    

The awarding ceremony was graced by Vice Governor Gerardo Noveras and Mayors Arthur Angara (Baler), Tubigan and Ariel Bitong (Ma. Aurora), Philippine Coconut Authority regional manager Dennis Calub,  Alma Ferareza,  Belly Cabeso of the NSWMC, Department of Environment and Natural Resources Central Luzon regional technical director for research Juliet Tecson, DENR provincial environment and natural resources officer Benjamin Mina, DENR community officers Raul Batang, Alfredo Collado and Jerry Casala and Babes de Luna of the Aurora environment and natural resources office. (Jason de Asis)