On September 4, 2025, the Provincial Solid Waste Management Board (PSWMB) gathered at the Digital Transformation Center, Capitol Complex, Cadlan, Pili, Camarines Sur, bringing together national agencies, Local Government Units (LGUs), and private sector partners in a united front for environmental sustainability.
Presided over by Board Member Donna Oñate, the meeting served as a platform for strategic planning, policy alignment, and capacity building aimed at strengthening CamSur’s solid waste management systems and promoting long-term ecological balance.
Kicking off the discussions, Ma. Dolores D. Salud, Provincial Director of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) CamSur Field Office, presented CSC Memorandum Circular No. 12, series of 2022, which provides guidelines on organizational structures and staffing patterns for LGUs. She emphasized the importance of strengthening local government capacity by ensuring the right personnel, skills, and organizational frameworks are in place. By addressing human resource gaps and clarifying roles and responsibilities, she underscored how the province can establish a more efficient governance system capable of responding proactively to environmental challenges.
Shifting the focus to compliance and environmental mandates, Ms. Eden Calleja, Senior Management Specialist of DENR Region V, led the discussion on the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000 (RA 9003) and the 2025 compliance targets for the Municipal Solid Waste Management Ten-Year Plan. She urged LGUs to accelerate infrastructure development, enforce waste segregation at source, and adopt innovative technologies, stressing that the deadline was fast approaching and collective action was critical.
On strengthening leadership and coordination, Zippora Vallerie Zuñiga, Agriculturist II of EDMERO CamSur, presented the proposed reconstruction of the PSWMB organizational framework. She highlighted how the revised structure would ensure inclusivity, streamline decision-making processes, and improve inter-agency collaboration, creating a more transparent and accountable system for environmental program implementation.
Finally, for the technical capacity-building component, Julie Anne Balangat, Supervising Science Research Specialist of DOST, introduced the Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS) Training of Trainers Program. She explained how this training would equip LGU representatives, technical staff, and waste management officers with advanced knowledge in waste characterization, enabling them to develop data-driven policies and strategies grounded in accurate and reliable information.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to integrated environmental governance, emphasizing the vital role of partnerships between government agencies, local communities, and private stakeholders. Under the visionary leadership of Governor Lray Villafuerte, the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur continues to champion sustainability, innovation, and inter-agency cooperation, paving the way for a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable CamSur for generations to come.
