Kasibu, Nueva Vizcaya—The Pollution Control Association of the Philippines, Inc. bestowed The Outstanding Pollution Control Officer award to Oliver Donato, a Didipio resident and the first Novo Vizcayano to receive such prestigious award.
Donato was selected to receive the award during the 39th National Annual Convention and General Assembly of the PCAPI in Cebu City last May 8-9.
This year’s theme, “PCO’s: Our Environmental Heroes,” reiterated the significance of private sector mainly its Pollution Control Officers and their partnership with the Philippine Government in minimizing the negative impacts of pollution by aiming to put an end to its very cause.
“As PCOs and Environment manager, we are burdened with the glorious task of finding and implementing solutions and more importantly to inspire others to join our efforts to save our environment,” PCAPI’s president, Jeremiah Dwight Sebastian said, while welcoming PCOs and delegates from different regions of the Philippines.
Donato is an Environment supervisor of OceanaGold’s Didipio Mine and an Environment Science graduate of Nueva Vizcaya State University in Bayombong.
He is part of an environment team that mitigates the impacts of large-scale mining in Nueva Vizcaya including water quality improvement, reforestation and mine progressive rehabilitation, energy efficiency, biodiversity conservation, among others.
“As Didipio residents, we have a responsibility to ensure all activities that happen within our community are compliant to existing laws to protect and enhance our environment,” Donato said.
“I am grateful to be part of the mining sector’s contribution in innovating the ways we could eradicate the threats of pollution” Donato added.
The participating pollution control officers underwent a thorough deliberation and present an environment enhancement project to a selection panel.
The criteria in selecting the TOPCO are non-violation of any environmental laws from the PCOS’s organization for the past three years, successful implementation of an excellent environmental and pollution control system in his/her company, among others.