South Cotabato — The Office of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (OPENRO) reported that its Integrated Provincial Environment Management Center (IPEMC) operations collected 33,789.00 kilos of infectious waste for treatment and treated 21,813.30 kilos in November 2025, reinforcing the province’s continuing effort to keep hazardous health facility waste from becoming a risk to communities.
OPENRO highlighted that safe collection, handling, and treatment of infectious waste help reduce the risk of disease-causing pathogens spreading beyond health facilities.
“Every kilo of infectious waste that is properly treated is one less risk to our health workers, our environment, and the public. This is prevention that communities can feel,” said Siegfred M. Flaviano, Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer.
This protects not only patients and healthcare workers, but also waste handlers, nearby households, and the environment, especially when improper disposal could lead to contamination of waterways and public spaces.
With health centers and hospitals generating daily waste that requires special handling, OPENRO emphasized that the steady volume of waste for treatment highlights the importance of strict compliance and consistent disposal systems across local government units and health facilities.
OPENRO also cited community and local government initiatives that promote stronger discipline in segregation and proper disposal.
During the 8th South Cotabato Provincial Ecology Day, the province concluded an awarding ceremony for the Search for the Cleanest and Greenest LGU, the Inter-household Contest, and the Best Healthcare Waste Management Practices Contest.
Flaviano added that these activities encourage wider participation, from households to institutions, and reinforce the message that cleanliness efforts must go hand in hand with responsible waste segregation and safe treatment, especially for infectious materials that require specialized handling.
OPENRO urged stakeholders to sustain proper segregation at the source and maintain strict compliance with protocols, stressing that when infectious waste is managed correctly, the impact is immediate and visible through safer workplaces, cleaner surroundings, and stronger protection for families across South Cotabato.
