On becoming the country’s first carbon neutral province

CITY of BALANGA, Bataan – Based on its mandate and congruent to the vision of the province that is to attain the highest human development index in the country through quality growth, Engr. Vic Ubaldo, Head of Provincial Government – Environment and Natural Resources (PG-ENRO), reported the accomplishments of his office during last Monday’s flag raising ceremony held at the Bataan People’s Center, in this City.

To curb the effects of global warming, Engr. Vic Obaldo, reported the initiatives of the Provincial Government of Bataan to transform the province into becoming the first carbon neutral province in the country.
Crucial to the attainment of this goal is the imposition of the so-called Carbon Tax. With the implementation of the Bataan Environment Code, (Sangguniang Panlalawigan Ordinance no. 3, S. 2019), an environmental protection and enhancement fee will be imposed among the establishments and industries based on carbon emissions and levying conveyance fee for the transport of toxic and hazardous materials along provincial and municipal roads.

Another initiative is the Urban Greening Program that started with the Green Legacy where Bataan held the Guinness World Record for the most number of trees planted in a single location in 2017, followed by the 1Million Trees for 1Bataan (1M41B) Challenge launched in September 2018 and is still on going.

Through the Ambient Air Monitoring Network wherein the province utilizes two (2) air monitoring equipment and mobile applications, the air quality all over the province is continually monitored.

With report from Hazel Ann Rose Haciñas