Majority of urban-dwellers in Metro Manila recognize the alarming problem of garbage disposal and management in the metropolis.

Indeed, as waste is consistently pegged to be generated at a rate of 0.5 kg/day/person,the problem remains at large.

Because of this, existing dumpsites are filled to the brim to accommodate the overwhelming garbage of the city and some 1,500 tons of garbage is dumped illegally on private land, in rivers, creeks and Manila Bay daily or openly burned, which further pollutes the air quality within Metro Manila. Moreover, it is a sad fact that some residents of Manila are ‘de-sensitized’ to the garbage problem and has resigned to accept the sight and smell of garbage as integral part of city living.

While the local governments are doing their best to cope with the challenges and pressures of managing the solid waste of the city, the fact still remains that city waste is generated at a rate much faster than we can handle. Hence, the call of the DENR to Bawas Balot, Bawas Basura. The program initially starts in a pilot location – the Farmer’s Market at the Araneta Center, Cubao. The Bawas Balot, Bawas Basura program aims to educate market-goers of the solid waste problem and to instill among them the practice of waste reduction by avoiding the use of over-packaged consumer products. Waste reduction is a core concept being promoted through the Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) The market administrators and vendors are also involved very closely in implementing the program.

The Environmental Management Bureau - EEID is spearheading the implementation of the Bawas Balot, Bawas Basura program in its pilot location. The program was launched on April 29 (Thursday), 12 nn at the Araneta Center.

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DENR SLATES CONSULTATIVE WORKSHOP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT
OF ACTION PLAN ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through its Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), held a consultative workshop for the development of a 10-year national action plan on environmental education at the Sulo Hotel in Quezon City last November 26-28, 2003.

The 3-day workshop reviewed and assessed environmental education programs and projects undertaken by various groups with reference to the National Environmental Education Action Plan from 1992-2002.

It also identified the gaps and issues affecting environmental education in the country, including the probable measures to address them.

Highlights of the workshop include presentation of papers on the challenges facing environmental education, in light of recent developments in the international, regional, and national landscapes.

Papers detailing local implementation and experiences, including gaps and the needed actions to enhance environmental education in the country for the next 10 years, at the elementary, secondary, and tertiary levels as well as in technical and vocational education and in non-formal education (for civil society, media, local governments, business and the youth, among them) were likewise presented in said workshop. Outputs in the consultative workshop would serve as the country’s Environmental Education Action Plan for 2004-2013.

                                                                   WORKSHOP OUTPUT AND PRESENTATIONS

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SKILLS TRAINING FOR KEY ENVIRONMENTAL COMMUNICATORS
OF EMB CONDUCTED

In an effort to advance environmental advocacy throughout the country, the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources held a training program for its regional environmental education and information officers on newsletter production and management last August 11-13, 2003 at the University Hotel of the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

The three-day training aimed to develop the communication skills of the bureau's newly-designated regional education and information officers, particularly on the basics of journalism and newsletter management.

EMB Director Amador, who graced the occasion, emphasized the need to build on the capacity of regional personnel of the bureau, particularly in communication, as they stand at the forefront of promoting public awareness and participation to environmental programs and projects, as well as compliance to environmental laws.

Topics include newswriting, newsfeature writing, caption and headline writing, and newsletter management. A computer hands-on using Pagemaker software on newsletter production was also conducted in the training to familiarize the participants on said software. Professor Psyche Roxas-Mendoza of the UP College of Mass Communication is the main resource person for the training. Around 30 key personnel of EMB's regional environmental education and information offices attended the said training.

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