Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) officer-in-charge (OIC) Jim Sampulna vowed on Monday, Feb. 28, to continue the agency's priority programs which focus on the strengthened implementation of the county's solid waste management plans.
"I will continue to pursue the 10 priority programs of the department as set by former DENR Sec. Roy A. Cimatu." Sampulna said in a press briefing.
He noted that the agency was "on track" to complete the ongoing rehabilitation of Boracay Island, Manila Bay, and their respective coastal marine ecosystems.
"Our focus is on improving the base water quality and reducing the fecal coliform level to make the Manila Bay set for swimming, boating, and other conduct of recreational activities," Sampulna disclosed.
He added that the DENR will also intensify its efforts to enforce the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act or Republic Act (RA) 9003 by assisting local government units (LGUs) in monitoring closed dumpsites and building sanitary landfills (SLFs).
According to the Environmental Management Bureau's (EMB) data, these SLFs should have a minimum lifespan of nine years and must be built by LGUs in line with the design of RA 9003.
In the case of plastic and waste pollution, Sampulna also pushed for banning single-use plastic.
"We need some legislation for that (ban on single-use plastic). Although there is no legislation on that yet, we are already advocating for it. I am pushing to ban single-use plastic because it is harmful to the environment," he said in an earlier statement.
Sampulna took over from Cimatu after Malacanang announced last Feb. 18 that the latter had already resigned from his post last due to health reasons.