The Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) has rolled out its enhanced online monitoring system to track compliance of local government units (LGUs) to the country’s solid waste management law.
EMB Director William Cuñado said the agency tapped 307 environmental monitoring and enforcement officers (ENMOs) assigned nationwide to use the new system of reporting which, he said, was “simpler and faster than the previous method.”
“This pandemic allowed us to focus our efforts in upgrading our online systems to continuously serve our clients and perform our mandated tasks despite the lockdowns,” Cuñado said in a statement.
Unlike the previous system where monitoring reports reached EMB offices days after the incident, Cuñado said the new online system would provide real-time reporting, allowing for quick response by concerned local government units (LGUs), primarily responsible for the enforcement of Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.
“With the newly improved system, we can quickly post, share and keep track of reports and complaints more efficiently,” Cuñado explained.
“Our counterparts in LGUs can immediately view the report and act on it.”
Since 2017, ENMOs have been deployed to provide assistance to LGUs, particularly barangays, in establishing an effective solid waste management program and strengthen the enforcement of other environmental laws and regulations.
This is in line with the implementation of the Solid Waste Enforcement and Education Program or SWEEP, which supports DENR’s strategy to develop systems and mechanisms for improved monitoring and enforcement of environmental laws through strengthened partnership with LGUs and other stakeholders.
Meanwhile, Cuñado said the ongoing community quarantine had allowed EMB to fully shift to online processing of clearances and permits.
“The system, which was originally developed as an internal document tracking system, has now largely evolved and will include in the loop, LGUs and other stakeholders to better serve its clients and the public, especially in these uncertain times,” Cuñado said.
