Five public and private entities in Bicol are 2010 Saringaya awardees

LEGAZPI CITY, July 7 (PNA) - At least five entities consisting of a hospital, local government unit, a multipartite monitoring team, science high school, and a water district got this year’s Saringaya Awards from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Bicol.

Alfredo Araya, DENR Bicol spokesman, said the awards were given in a simple ceremony during the culminating program of the Environment Month celebration held recently at the Casablanca Hotel here.

The recipients of the 2010 Saringaya Awards were the following: USI-Mother Seton Hospital in Naga City (Small-Scale Industry Category), Municipality of Magarao in Camarines Sur under the able leadership of Mayor Nelson B. Julia (Local Government Unit Category), Bacon-Manito Multipartite Monitoring Team (Special Category), Philippine Science High School – Bicol Region Campus in Tagontong, Goa, Camarines Sur (Academe Category), and Camarines Norte Water District under the able leadership of general manager Ma. Antonia F. Boma (Special Category).

DENR Regional Executive Director Joselin Marcus Fragada said Saringaya Awards is an annual event organized by the DENR aimed at recognizing the academe, the LGUs, people’s organizations, other government organizations, small-medium to large scale industries and individuals whose operations and systems, in a general sense, favor the upkeep of the natural resources and the environment in its entirety. It is now on its 10th year.

The individual citation of the 2010 Saringaya Awards read as follows:

USI-Mother Seton Hospital – for its environmental and social commitments of bringing to fore various programs and projects that include healthcare waste management system, tree plantation and vegetable gardening, thus ensuring the protection and preservation of a healthy environment.

Municipality of Magarao – for the effective implementation of eco-friendly policies and various programs and projects in support to the mission and vision of the DENR, that provides a clean and healthy environment through pr solid waste management, organic farming, tree plantation, mangrove plantation and river bank rehabilitation. Its solid waste management program characterized by segregated collection at source with Material Recovery Facility for its 15 barangays is worth emulation as it won the Zero Basura Olympics Philippine Garbology Marathon.

Bacon-Manito Geothermal Multipartite Monitoring Team – for its outstanding performance as an operational Multi-Partite Monitoring Team through the formulation and adoption of Manual of Operation which ensures the judicious compliance to sound environmental management systems of Energy Development Corporation and NPC-Bacon Manito Geothermal Power Plant and Bac-Man Airshed.

Philippine Science High School – Bicol Region Campus – for its steadfast stewardship of molding the minds of its students by instilling in them excellent understanding of sound environmental practices, forest and mangrove conservation, climate change, solid waste management and other pertinent topics affecting humans as they relate to the environment. Its programs and projects involving the students in tree plantation activities, mangrove plantation establishment, adopt a school and barangay, adopt a mountain and beach clean-up, supportive of the DENR mission and vision, are worth of emulation.

Camarines Norte Water District – for its conscientious implementation of various environmental projects and social development that include integrated watershed management and protected area management, coastal rehabilitation, scholarship to deserving students, livelihood programs, advocacy and trainings on sustainable resources management.

Saringaya is a Bicol term which means abundance of growth. (PNA)
LAP/LQ/MSA/cbd