The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has reminded local government units (LGUs) to protect environmental frontliners against the continuing threat of Covid-19 infection.
The DENR recently held a webinar among environment officers of various LGUs where the issue of garbage collectors and estero rangers being exposed to the virus was brought up.
During the webinar, experts reminded LGUs of the proper handling of solid and hazardous wastes during the pandemic.
“Environment workers, particularly garbage collectors, have been classified as essential workers as they work tirelessly to help protect public health and contain the spread of the virus by disposing of everything from household to health-care wastes,” said DENR Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and LGU Concerns Benny D. Antiporda.
The webinar aims to capacitate Metro Manila LGUs with adequate knowledge and skills to keep environment workers healthy and safe while performing their duties during the pandemic.
“This initiative by the DENR-National Capital Region (NCR) office is a welcome effort to make sure that we can inform the public about how to properly sanitize and disinfect our surroundings, especially during this time of a health crisis when cleanliness is a must to protect everyone from the virus,” Antiporda said in a news statement.