EMB holds training on environmental mgm’t

The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will spearhead the holding of the "Visayas and Mindanao Educators’ Training on Environmental Management System (EMS) and Pollution Prevention/Cleaner production (P2/CP)". This will be held on Aug. 27-29, at the Quantum Resort, Mactan Island, Cebu.

EMS is standard of procedures being implemented to address the immediate and long term environmental impacts of any organization’s activities, products and services. This is a proactive approach to comply with existing environmental laws such as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Clean Air Act, taking into account the pollution strategies and cleaner production technologies that may be incorporated in the company or organization’s facilities and operations.

The most tangible indicator of a successful EMS implementation is the awarding of its ISO 14001 certification by an accredited certifying body. This certification is the company or organization’s public testimony that it shall continuously improve its operations within, if not beyond, prescribed environmental standards.

The provincial government of Bohol is the first local government unit to implement EMS. With technical assistance from the EMB, it was able to involve the majority of community stakeholders in the environmental protection, reducing energy and water consumption, and monitoring waste disposal and coastal water quality in its jurisdiction. Inevitably, EMS implementation of the provincial government faced a lot of pressures and challenges in varied forms, among them were the bureaucratic nature of the organization and changes in political leadership, which it was able to overcome. Now, the provincial government of Bohol is enjoying the distinct recognition as the first local government unit in the Philippines to be certified to ISO 14001.

Another case is the Asian Institute of Management, the premier graduate school of business in Asia, now a pioneer in the successful implementation of EMS within an academic institution with minimum technical assistance from the EMB. It is the first academic institution in the Philippines to be awarded a certification to ISO 14001.

These EMS success stories and the fundamental concepts of EMS will be discussed during the training.