The Department of Environment and Natural Resources in Siquijor has embarked on two major projects to help address climate change by installing battery collection facility and intensifying house visitation campaign on solid waste management, the Philippine Information Agency said in a press release. 

Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Antonio Cabrido said, instead of establishing a material recovery facility in compliance with Republic Act 9003, a battery collection facility is was built in the three populated areas of Siquijor, Larena and Lazi, in Siquijor province.

The facility is like a septic tank placed in a big polyethylene, where all used batteries including fluorescent or light bulbs are collected by a dump truck to be disposed temporarily, Cabrido said in the press release.

Used batteries including broken lamps in the household are considered hazardous, because of their toxicity or the corrosive materials contain within are supposed to be recycled due to their potential value as metal source, he added.

Also part of the campaign of DENR in the island is the house-to house visitation, not only to inform the household on the proper disposal or solid waste segregation and composting in the barangay, but also to encourage the use of compact fluorescent light to help protect the environment and save money on electric bills, the press release said.

However, the PENRO said electricity in Siquijor is the most costly in Central Visayas because the electric dealer, PROSIELCO, is using fuel.

With the Department of Energy’s drive, the CFL is the most energy efficient which uses only one-fourth as much energy per unit of light produced as incandescent bulbs, while a fluorescent light may be more expensive to buy, it will actually save money in the long run, the press release also said.

To get the greatest energy savings, DOE encourages the replacement of incandescent bulbs with fluorescents in rooms where the lights are on the most, such as the family room, living room, kitchen, dining room and porch, the press release added.*

back to top