DENR National Capital Region Regional Executive Director Jacqueline A. Caancan joined the 2-day Solid Waste Management Summit organized by the DENR Environmental Management Bureau-National Capital Region (EMB-NCR) last week. The summit, held at the Manila Hotel on July 14-15, 2022, was attended by top officials of the environment department led by DENR Officer-in-Charge and Undersecretary for Legal, Administration, Human Resources and Legislative Affairs, Atty. Ernesto D. Adobo Jr.; Atty. Analiza R. Teh (Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems, and Climate Change); Atty. Jonas R. Leones, (Undersecretary for Policy, Planning and International Affairs); and Atty. Juan Miguel T. Cuna (Undersecretary for Field Operations – Luzon, Visayas and Environment).
Director Caancan was among the speakers of the summit and was asked to discuss the National Plan of Action on Marine Litter or NPOA-ML, a set of strategies that DENR has adopted to address marine pollution and make Philippines waters “zero waste by 2040”.
In her message, Director Caancan said efforts to address marine litter should put equal stress on changing people’s hearts and minds “as new solid waste management practices could only emerge from renewed and inspired thinking".
“While it is easy to blame the public for the mess—their apparent lack of concern on the issue, that is—we at the government must firmly resist the temptation to do so. To entertain such a narrative, would do a great disservice to our sacred vow as public servants”, Caancan said.
The summit recognized individuals, groups, and LGUs of Metro Manila for their innovations and contributions to resolving the issue of solid waste management.
Original article from DENR Website
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