LEGAZPI CITY - Barangay Triangulo in Naga City, along with 4 other barangays in Bicol, have qualified as regional entries to the 2nd nationwide search for model barangay for eco waste management system being conducted by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

Photo Caption: SEGREGATION RESUMED. Garbage segregation at the Material Recovery Facility in Bgy. Balatas, Naga City whose steel pavilion was collapsed by the recent typhoon (top photo, left) resumed this week after a temporary shelter for hammer mill and segregation equipment were finally housed in a temporary shelter erected on the original site. Lower photos show workers feeding the segregation machines with the city’s collected garbage. RANDY VILLAFLOR

        This was announced by DENR Regional Training Director Felix C. Mendoza in his letter to members of the provincial solida waste management boards in each province and all the Bicol provincial governors and city and town mayors.

        The barangay nominees to the national search are: Bgy. Manlimonsito of San Lorenzo Ruiz, Camarines Norte; Bgy. Cayucyucan of Mercedes, Camarines Norte; Bgy. Mabalite of Deat, Camarines Norte; and Bgy. Ugos in Sorsogon City; and Bgy. Triangulo in Naga City.

        Notably, three of the qualified barangays belong to Camarines Norte, while none qualified from bigger provinces such as Camarines Sur, Albay, Masbate, and the island province of Catanduanes.

        The search is geared towards compliance with the provisions of R.A. 9003, otherwise known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 which hopes to generate greater mulit-sectoral interest and partnership in addressing the solid waste management problem in the country today. Specifically, the search aims to achieve the following objectives: (a) to recognize and reward LGUs successfully implementing Ecological Solid Waste Management (ESWM); (b) to highlight novel and creative ESWM approaches which can serve as models for other LGUs; (c) to generate data for benchmarking and monitoring R.A. 9003 compliance.

        The model barangay search is categorized in 5 levels, depending on land area size and population based on the baranagay’s Intenal Revenue Allotment (IRA), such as: Group A, for barangay below P500,000 annual IRA; Group B for 500,001 to P600,000 annual IRA; Group C for 6001 to P700,000 IRA; Group D, for 700,001 to P900,000; and Group E for P900,001 and above IRA, to which Bgy. Tirangulo of Naga City belongs. jason b. neola