THE DEPARTMENT of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has allocated funds to finance its continuing ecological waste management project in the Calabarzon Region, composed of the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon. In a statement, the agency said it has turned over P153 million to boost the program, which will be made available to local government units (LGUs) by year-end. Of this amount, about P80 million will be given to 50 LGUs. The move was in response to Environment Secretary Roy A. Cimatu’s earlier directive to closely monitor garbage waste disposal and close down dump sites found to be violating environmental laws. — Janina C. Lim