The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) is strongly urging local government units (LGUs) to craft and implement ordinance that prohibits the burning of agricultural wastes.
Immaculate Juntarciego, chief of the Solid Waste Management Section of the EMB, said that the burning of agricultural wastes does not only emit carbon dioxide which is hazardous to health but may also contain residue of pesticides and herbicides.
Currently, she mentioned that there are only a limited number of LGUs that have responded to the call which is understandable because the proposal is just new.
The province of Negros Occcidental nonetheless, she said, is way ahead because former Gov. Joseph Marañon already banned the conduct of such activity.
Instead of burning agricultural wastes, Hontarciego said farmers may set up a composting area to allow the wastes to decompose and later be used as organic fertilizer.
In the province of Aklan, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has already approved a Provincial Ordinance prohibiting the burning of rice straw and other agricultural wastes. However, this ordinance is neither implemented nor followed by the farmer. According to studies conducted by the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, rice straw decompost is equivalent to two bags commercial fertilizer. /MP
No comments:
Post a Comment