RECIPIENTS. Some mayors in Eastern Visayas show the deed of donations after receiving equipment from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB). At least 29 towns in Eastern Visayas have received PHP29 million worth of equipment to enhance the operation of their materials recovery facilities.(Photo courtesy of DENR-EMB) TACLOBAN CITY - At least 29 towns in Eastern Visayas have received PHP29 million worth of equipment to enhance the operation of the local government units' materials recovery facilities (MRFs), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) said on Thursday. Each of the 29 towns received a set of equipment with a brand-new composter, shredder for biodegradable wastes, and 4G solar-powered closed circuit television camera, DENR-EMB regional information officer Glenda Lagunzad said. "The equipment sets will help enhance the operation of the MRFs, make their composting activities more efficient and productive, provide potential livelihood on organic compost production, and make monitoring of the MRF operations easier," she said in a phone interview. The DENR-EMB turned over the equipment on August 31 to mayors and other key local government officials. The 29 recipient local governments are Caibiran and Kawayan in Biliran province; Calubian, Hindang, Inopacan, Julita, La Paz, and Tunga in Leyte; Hinundayan in Southern Leyte; Marabut, Pagsanghan, San Jorge, Tarangnan, and Zumarraga in Samar; Arteche, Can-avid, Dolores, Maslog, Maydolong, Sulat, and Taft in Eastern Samar; Bobon, Capul, Gamay, Lapinig, Lope de Vega, Mapanas, Silvino Lobos, and Victoria in Northern Samar. These towns, Lagunzad said, have existing MRFs and have not received similar equipment from the national government. The Ecological Solid Waste Management Act mandates the establishment of MRF in every village or cluster of villages. The facility will be established in a village-owned or leased land or any suitable open space to be determined by the village through its local council. MRF is a materials recycling facility that separates and prepares single-stream recycling materials to be sold to end buyers. (PNA) }