Negros Occidental Hazardous Waste Disposal Progresses
The Negros Occidental provincial government has taken decisive steps to improve health and environmental safety by hiring a company for hazardous waste disposal from two key hospitals. This move ensures compliance with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Department of Health (DOH) regulations, crucial for medical institutions to maintain a safe and healthy environment.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz confirmed that the contractor, Urban Hazmat Transport, has already completed the removal of hazardous waste from Cadiz District Hospital in Cadiz City and Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City. This action reflects the provincial government’s commitment to upholding strict environmental and health standards.
Significant Waste Removal and Treatment
The hazardous waste disposal involved transporting 111,111 kilograms of hospital waste to a treatment facility in Cavite province. Previously, this waste was buried or stored in septic vaults within the hospital premises, posing potential risks to public health and the environment.
Diaz explained that the two hospitals were prioritized due to their critical roles during the pandemic and their specialized functions. Cadiz District Hospital served as a COVID-19 center, while Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital houses a molecular laboratory, which generates more hazardous waste than typical medical facilities.
Funding and Future Waste Disposal Plans
The provincial government allocated ₱10 million for the initial hazardous waste removal. Furthermore, another purchase order is set to be signed to address hazardous waste disposal from other provincial hospitals, ensuring a comprehensive cleanup effort across the region.
Although the Silay City hospital has an incinerator, its capacity can only handle current waste, not the accumulated backlog. This limitation underscores the need for ongoing waste management improvements.
Local officials emphasized that these efforts are vital to protect both healthcare workers and the wider community from the dangers of hazardous medical waste.
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