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| DPWH-IN2 is most eco-friendly. DPWH regional director Engr. Ronnel M. Tan hands over the trophy to DPWH Ilocos Norte 2nd Engineering District Engr. Mathias L. Malenab for placing first in the Environmental Excellence Award for 2018 DPWH Ecofriendly District Engineering Offices (Environmental Management Programs Sustainability). The award is in recognition of their exemplary compliance to the environment programs/policies and efforts on environmental protection and conservation. The awarding coincided with the DPWH 120th Anniversary and held at the DPWH regional office in San Fernando City, La Union on June 23, 2018. (Doms dela Cruz) |
By Dominic B. dela Cruz
Staff reporter
San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte—The Dept. of Public Works and National Highways-Ilocos Norte 2nd Engineering District based in this town won as the region’s 2018 Most Environmental Management Programs Sustainability Office.
The award is in line with the national government’s effort to protect and conserve the environment.
The awarding ceremony happened during the DPWH’s 120th Anniversary held at DPWH regional office on June 23, 2018.
The award recognizes the said office’s exemplary compliance to the environmental programs and policies and efforts on environmental protection and conservation.
DPWH second engineering district head Engr. Mathias L. Malenab thanked all his personnel for their cooperation and contributions on the innovations they made in their office. He stressed that without them the award would not be possible.
According to Mr. Malenab, DPWH-INED2 strictly implements the environmental management programs in terms of the “4Ps” (policy, promotion of awareness, people and practices).
He added that they also implemented electricity conservation wherein they keep lighting to the minimum during lunch breaks and turning off of the monitors of computers and other equipment when not in use; the adherence to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and maintenance and monitoring of Bukod Basura practice on 3R’s (reduce at source, reuse and recycle); greening program through monitoring the schedule of watering the plants; green procurement program through employees’ awareness and emergency preparedness program like emergency instruction and evacuation plans posted at strategic locations, directions leading to fire exit and others.
Likewise, the San Nicolas office also implements the air pollution prevention with strict observation of Clean Air Act and implementation of “no smoking” policy inside the building premises; fuel conservation and efficient utilization of energy fuel and minimizing the consumption of the same; and order and cleanliness in compliance with the DPWH QMS Manual, IO 9001:2008.
Other awardees in Region I were the DPWH second engineering districts in Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan, which placed second and third, respectively.
As a result, all the three winning engineering districts will represent Region I in the national level.
The Ilocos Norte District’s evaluation occurred on July 3, 2018. Four people from the DPWH central office served as evaluators.