Firms honored for pollution prevention

MANILA, Philippines - President Arroyo cited eight industrial establishments and three mining companies for their outstanding environmental performance by adopting pollution prevention and programs to protect the environment.

Mrs. Arroyo, chair of the Climate Change Commission, awarded the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Seal of Approval and certificate of recognition to Nestle Philippines’ Cabuyao factory in Laguna and Lipa factory in Batangas; Absolut Distillers in Lian, Batangas; Analog Devices in Gen. Trias, Cavite; ON Semiconductor in Carmona, Cavite; ST Microelectronics in Calamba, Laguna; and PSI Technologies and Vishay Philippines, both in Taguig City, for showing best environmental practices under the Philippine Environment Partnership Program category.

Mindanao mining companies Holcim Philippines, Silangan Mindanao Mining Corp., and Sagittarius Mines received the Presidential Mineral Industry Environmental Award.

Climate Change Secretary Heherson Alvarez, also vice chairman of the Commission, said out of the 7,000 companies in the country only the 11 awardees showed exemplary environmental practices.

“The awardees are most outstanding in pollution prevention and environmental programs to protect our fragile environment,” Alvarez said during the awarding ceremony in Malacañang last Thursday.

Ramos said the awardees were chosen based on the criteria set by the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) and the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB).

As national winners, the companies are allowed the use of the DENR Official Seal of Approval in their packaging and advertising to inform the public of their environment-friendly operations. — Paolo Romero