PMO MOC racks up 3rd Envi Clean-up Drive for 2019
Following the barangay-wide waterways clean-up last March and the coastal clean-up and underwater garbage collection on May, the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro took part in another environmental clean-up on 25 August 2019 along the shores of Opol, Misamis Oriental.
Twenty-five (25) PMO personnel gathered on early Sunday morning at the designated area along the coastline of Opol, bringing their own cleaning materials. LGU Opol, other government agencies, youth organizations, non-government organizations, and civic groups also participated in the coastal clean-up. The activity drew an estimate of 100 individuals in attendance.
The PMO team alone collected a total of six (6) kilos of garbage along the shore which was mostly composed of cigarette butts, empty bottles, and plastic materials.
By its ardent commitment for environmental protection and conservation, the PMO has been actively engaging in various environmental activities in cooperation with different agency partners. Last May 2019, the Office was one of the delegates for the mission of planting ten thousand (10,000) mangrove propagules at Taytay, El Salvador, Misamis Oriental. Now with the opening and operationalization of the Port of Opol, the PMO commits to be more involved and participative in environment-related activities in the Municipality of Opol especially for its water and marine resources. The Office also looks forward to more collaborations with the LGU and the communities near the new Port for environmental sustainability.
Port of Cagayan de Oro joins Earth Hour 2019
The Port of Cagayan de Oro, together with the shipping lines and other port stakeholders joined the observance of Earth 2019 on 30 March 2019, Saturday, at exactly 8:30 to 9:30 in the evening. Said participation is part of their ardent commitment to environmental protection.
The Port and the port stakeholders switched off non-essential lights and electrical devices/appliances in their respective offices and establishments for the hour-long observance.
This year’s Earth Hour was themed with the hashtags #Connect2Earth and #AyokoNgPlastik. The World Wildlife Fund-Philippines highlighted the issue of single-use plastics in the country, and the need to immediately address it to mitigate environmental degradation.
In Cagayan de Oro City, the Local Government has already banned the single-use plastics in all establishments around the City since 01 January 2019, per Ordinance No. 13378-2010 or the Integrated Eco-biological Solid Waste Management Ordinance of Cagayan de Oro.
World Water Day 2019: PMO MOC joins Clean-Up Drive
In ardent commitment for environmental protection and sustainability under the mandates of the Integrated Management System, the PMO Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro joined the various agencies and civic groups for a barangay-wide clean-up drive on 22 March 2019 in Barangay Macabalan, in celebration of the Word Water Day 2019 with the national theme, “Hawak Kamay, Tubig Kaagapay.”
The Clean-up Drive was organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources- Environment Management Bureau (DENR-EMB), with its own theme, “FoRiver-Together Forever for Cleaner Rivers,” mainly to mobilize all stakeholders in cleaning the bodies of water around Barangay Macabalan that flow out to the Macajalar Bay. EMB OIC Regional Director, Raynaldo S. Digamo conveyed that this activity was conducted as part of the agency’s main thrusts: clean air, water, and proper solid waste management. He added that the agency also aims to widen the education and information campaign on proper solid waste management especially towards the cleanliness and maintenance of the bodies of water.
Reaching more stakeholders and partners to take part, the event drew out almost 2,000 participants from private and government sectors and civic groups that included among others, youth organizations, cooperatives, and the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), as early as 5:00 in the morning. All participating agencies and organizations were grouped into seven (7) area clusters.
After the short program in the community covered court, all participants proceeded to their assigned area, bringing rakes, broomsticks, sacks, and other cleaning materials. The organizers also provided hand gloves and face masks.
The twenty-two (22) PMO personnel who laboriously collected a variety of garbage from the drainage canal (“estero”) in their assigned area, had gathered an estimated 80 kilograms of wastes.
A Certificate of Appreciation was conferred to PMO MOC and other participating agencies, as a manifestation of the DENR-EMB’s gratefulness for their unwavering support that abundantly contributed to the success of the clean-up drive.
PMO MOC joins Tree Growing Activity
The PMO Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro joined the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO)’s celebration of its 19th anniversary on 01 March 2019 at Duaw Park, Cagayan de Oro City.
In line with the celebration’s theme, “Environmental Protection… a way of LIFE!” and in pursuance of the PMO MOC’s commitment for environmental protection and conservation, the PMO employees took part in planting variegated Lambago Tree seedlings along the riverbank of Cagayan de Oro River, together with the representatives from the Philippine National Police, and other invited agencies.
Prior to the tree growing activity, participants were engaged in the series of activities: morning exercise (Zumba dance), pledge-taking on support and commitment to protect, preserve, and conserve the environment, hand marking on the pledge wall, among others.
Christmas Tree making Contest
In furtherance of the Green Port Program and in line of the implementation of the Integrated Management System of which Solid Waste Management is essentially part of, the PMO MOC launched a Christmas Tree Making Contest among its division offices where entries were made from recyclable materials.
The contest aimed to promote among the PMO personnel the practice of reducing, reusing, and recycling (3Rs) non-biodegradable wastes. By using recyclable materials, the contest further aimed to bring out the creativity and workmanship of the personnel.
Three (3) Christmas tree entries were predominantly ornamented with plastic and/or Styrofoam cups and plastic bottles, and old Christmas decors, while other divisions were experimental on their designs—used tarpaulins, shattered Compact Disks, and old car tires, among others.
After thorough deliberation, the Finance Division was hailed to have the best Christmas Tree which was made from assembled car tires, embellished with bottle caps, and cellophane. Their entry presentation was further enhanced by adding egg trays that served as gifts underneath the tree and other tires around. The Office of the Port Manager came second with its unusual white Christmas tree from recycled tarpaulins, followed by the Port Services Division for their multi-colored Tree out of painted plastic bottles and caps. The rest of the divisions still received consolation prizes.
PMO MOC joins World Soil Day
Recognizing the importance of the soil as the top source of the humanities’ foods, water, energy security, and aids the natural biodiversity, the Bureau of Soils and Water Management enjoined all agencies in more than a month-long promotion of soil protection awareness (05 November to 14 December 2018).
A 20-second campaign video was cascaded to all enjoined agencies of which the Port Management Office of Misamis Oriental/Cagayan de Oro showed the said audio-visual presentation to port clients and customers at its Assessment, Billing, and Cashier Unit. IEC materials on World Soil Day were also posted in the port’s conspicuous places.
The World Soil Day, first launched on 5 December 2014, is a global awareness raising platform duly adopted by the United Nations, as recommended by UN Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO).
Carbon Sink Area
The Port has Carbon Sink Areas located at Green Belt Area-Admin Building, Green Belt Area-2nd Avenue and Green Belt Area Q, with a total area of 270,530.50 square meters were planted with 255 various indigenous tree species of less than 40 years old of maturity.
The PMO-MOC solar lighting system of the employs solar panel/photovoltaic cell that is able to collect the solar energy throughout the day-time. After being collected, the energy is stored in a rechargeable gel cell battery and used later in the evening to produce lighting. The light is being turned on/off by an intelligent controller which is switching on/off the LED light in the scheduled time of operation/usage.
The Green Warrior Hour is a contest held every 15th of the month participated by PMO MOC employees and outsource janitorial services provider wherein entries could be submitted per division or as an individual.
Carbon Sink Area
Organic vegetable garden located at the Port Manager’s Quarters. Realizing the health benefits and cost advantages of organic products, the Port Management Office (PMO) cultivated an organic vegetable garden located at the Port Manager’s Quarters where papaya, bitter gourd, petchay (green cabbage), malunggay (horseradish), cucumber and legumes were grown, nurtured, harvested, prepared for employee’s food consumption and even offered during Friday mass in the office.
PMO MOC held an Environmental Forum on Climate Change, RA 8749 (Clean Air Act) and RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act) last 26 April 2018. With Dr. Anabel A. Abuzo of Xavier University, as its resource speaker, the forum was intended to equip participants with a better understanding of climate change and its subsequent effect on global warming. Through such learning, the participants are expected to incorporate strategies and actions on environmental protection and conservation in their respective workplace.
Doing their share for the environment, PMO MOC employees and stakeholders planted at least 100 trees on the port’s undeveloped perimeter areas. While providing green cover, these trees will also serve as security buffer for the port.
Conducted Safety and Environmental Awareness Activity with Site Visit last December 7, 2017 to Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation-Northern Mindanao Import Facility (PSPC-NMIF).
Conduct of Ambient Air Quality Monitoring in four (4) monitoring stations within the port, conducted last November 29, 2017. This is being done by a third party DENR-recognized laboratory to ensure conformance to procedures and methods of analysis. Generated results are way below the DENR National Ambient Air Quality Standard. (NAAQS).
As part of the National Maritime Week celebration on September 2017, PMO MOC have worked closely with maritime agencies/schools and port stakeholders in the conduct of environmental activities such as mangrove planting and port clean-up.
Celebrating Earth Day 2017, PMO MOC employees planted 50 trees at Mapawa Nature Park last 22 April 2017.
In April 11, 2016, during its PPA MOC’s 41st Anniversary, the port of Cagayan de Oro had piloted the inauguration of Port Environmental Forum and Tree Planting activity at the port’s Greenbelt area. The event was headed by the Port Manager of Cagayan de Oro together with Port’s Division Managers and the renowned Miss Earth England 2015 Katrina Kendall.