The effective implementation of solid waste management (SWM) in the island municipality of Caluya has earned the local government unit (LGU) the highest recognition in the “Malinis at Masaganang Karagatan (MMK)” search of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR).

BFAR-Antique head Richard Cordero said in an interview Friday that Caluya has clean coastal waters without any garbage or industrial effluence flowing to the sea.

“There is also no illegal fishing and they have around 500 hectares of marine protected area,” Cordero said during the recognition conferred at the Luxent Hotel in Quezon City on November 22.

Caluya has an effective mangrove protection and rehabilitation program and strictly adheres to the closed fishing season, which are among the criteria in the national search.

Cordero said the 18 coastal barangays in Caluya gave their job order employees the responsibility to ensure the implementation of the SWM and mangrove protection.

Caluya maintains its eco-park where the plastic wastes of households and commercial establishments are processed into eco-bricks.

There is also a material recovery facility in every barangay where the solid wastes are collected by the LGU to be transported to the eco-park.

“Households also manage well their biodegradable wastes through vermin-composting,” Cordero said.

Caluya, as the grand winner, will receive PHP30 million through a fund transfer.

“The LGU will be the one that will decide on how to use the amount for their priority fisheries livelihood programs,” the BFAR official said. (PNA)