The City Environment Management Office (CEMO) of San Carlos City conducted waste diversion training today, Nov. 27, at the People’s Park Pavilion.

At least 100 participants, including representatives from all 18 barangays—barangay captains, secretaries, and barangay kagawad committee chairs on environment and members of the Sipaway Island Overnight Shed Association (SIOSA), Sipaway Ecotourism Workers Association (SETWA), various fisherfolk associations, and homestay operators gathered for the said training.

The activity aimed at strengthening local efforts toward achieving the city’s waste diversion goals as part of its 10-Year Solid Waste Management Plan; reinforcing its commitment to a cleaner, greener San Carlos.

Resource speakers included CEMO Environmental Management Specialist (EMS) I Analou F. Gomo, Provincial Solid Waste Management Focal Person/EMS I Sheila Joan V. Bautista, BioFlyte Agriventures President Aldwin Torquido, DENR-EMB Sheelamite A. Labrador, DENR-EMB Engr. Victor Thomas Ureta, and Subay Marketing, Inc. Chief Business Development Officer Lemar M. Ledesma, MBA.

Among the topics discussed were City Ordinance 12-08 or the San Carlos City Environment Code, the Legal Basis of Waste Diversion, Diversion Strategies (Black Soldier Fly), Target Waste Diversion Goals for 2024, Strategies and Technologies in Waste Diversion, and Plastic Waste Diversion.

Gomo of CEMO said the training equips participants with waste diversion strategies they can implement in their communities and help address the Philippines’ ranking as the second-largest waste producer in Asia.

She added that CEMO plans to follow up on this initiative with evaluations and field activities to ensure participants apply what they’ve learned. They also aim to extend similar training programs to schools to promote waste diversion among students and teachers.

Punong Barangay Judith Allarce of Brgy 5 thanked CEMO for the training that provided barangay officials and organizations with knowledge to address waste management challenges, and improve garbage collection efforts in their respective barangays.

PEMO Focal Person Rodolfo G. Sapalo Jr. and CENRO I Engr. Loreto Sanchez were also present during the activity.

*Please watch the video of this news event and other stories thru #VAMOSNewsSanCarlos over YouTube channel at youtube.com/@vamosnewsancarlos and at Parasat TV channel 27 every Saturday night at 7PM.