In a bid to closely monitor their compliance on environment laws and ordinances, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) proposed that health care facilities and clinics within Puerto Princesa City be required to submit hazardous waste management plan prior to the issuance of Sanitary Permit by the City Health Office.
Edna Velasco, head of the Provincial Environmental Management Office (PEMO) of the Environmental Management Bureau, said requiring them to submit a plan will oblige them to implement what is reflected in their plans and that might keep their health care wastes in order not to cause harm and risks to other people.
If the city government will require them to submit the plan prior to the issuance of the Sanitary Permit, the city’s health office can compel them to prepare and implement the same.
“Sana po maging prior requirement ang hazardous waste management part of the requirements prior to the issuance of sanitary permit,” she said.
These small health care facilities in the city are not serviced by a treatment, storage and disposal (TSD) facility.
Since these are smaller in scope compared to a hospital, they are exempted in securing Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC). They only obtain Certificate of Non-Coverage (CNC) from DENR-EMB and has to adhere also to existing laws, particularly for the proper disposal of wastes.
“Yung mga maliliit na health care facilities ay may septic vaults naman para sa mga health care wastes nila, mga syringes ay nakalagay doon,” she said.