MENRE-LDS kicks off environmental awareness month with cleanup drive

DAVAO CITY – In celebration of National Environmental Awareness Month, Philippine Clean Air Month, and Climate Change Consciousness Week, the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy of Lanao del Sur (MENRE-LDS) launched a cleanup drive on November 8 in Barangay Matampay. The event yielded a collection of 660 kilograms of waste, mostly consisting of residual and recyclable materials.

MENRE-LDS Provincial Director Asmarie Labao highlighted that much of the waste collected originated from households, underscoring the importance of community involvement in waste management.

“The volume of waste shows that household practices play a big role. We encourage everyone to adopt proper waste segregation to reduce the load on our Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) and ensure that only residual waste reaches our sanitary landfills,” Labao stated.

Labao also urged residents to embrace their role as eco-warriors, noting that environmental stewardship aligns with the teachings of Islam, which calls individuals to act as protectors, or “Al Khalifa,” of the environment. “Our activities this month aim to remind everyone of this responsibility,” he added.

The cleanup drive saw active participation from MENRE-LDS’s Palaw and Forest Rangers, as well as volunteers from student organizations, the local government, and Bityara Incorporated. Rohana Mapia, a volunteer from Bityara Inc., emphasized the need for public education on waste management, saying, “Taking care of our environment is taking care of ourselves.”

Environmental Awareness Month, observed every November under Republic Act No. 9512, aligns with the Bangsamoro Government’s priority agenda, which emphasizes disaster resilience and climate adaptation. Since its establishment in 2019, the Bangsamoro Government has strengthened disaster preparedness in the region, enhancing early warning systems, delivering rapid relief aid, and promoting climate adaptation strategies to better protect communities from environmental challenges.