insulated van that will be use as transport facility for the P5.1-million Health Care Waste Treatment Facility of the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO) has already been delivered by its supplier from Cebu City.
PEMO – Environment Management Division chief Elbe Balucanag disclosed that the 3.5-liter diesel engine van (Canter Type) is worth about P500,000.00 with a minimum 1-ton capacity and could accommodate 30 containers of health care wastes in full capacity.
“Bio-hazard signages will be posted at the sides and back of the vehicle as required by both the Department of Health and Environment Management Bureau,” Balucanag added.
She also pointed out that their office plans to conduct capability-training to the personnel that will operate the van which include 1 driver, 1 program, assistant and 3 laborers.
Under said project, all types of health care wastes such as hazardous and infectious wastes from government-owned and privately-operated hospitals and clinics as well as funeral parlors will be collected by the province with a corresponding “tipping fee”.
The collected wastes will be brought then at the Integrated Provincial Environment Center (IPEMC) in Tinongkop, Tantangan where the treatment facility is located.
SP Member Ellen Grace Subere-Albios, SP Committee Chair on Environment, has already conducted a public hearing on the proposed South Cotabato Health Care Waste Ordinance in preparation for the establishment of said facility.
PEMO targets the third quarter of this year for the treatment facility to be fully operational complete with building that has water system and partial electrification.
