Balbaloto in Victoria town and San Carlos in Tarlac City topped the Barangay Environmental Compliance Audit (BECA) in the province of Tarlac. 

BECA is an initiative of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), only being implemented in Central Luzon, that recognizes Manila Bay watershed barangays with exceptional performance in carrying out their mandates and responsibilities. 

DILG Provincial Director Armi Bactad highlighted BECA as a key driver towards the active involvement of barangays in implementing solid waste management, and protecting and preserving the environment.

“We commend and recognize the importance of the BECA as a significant initiative aimed at promoting active Barangay participation and fostering innovation in solid waste management. By acknowledging and rewarding the exemplary efforts of barangays in waste management, BECA not only motivates compliance but also cultivates a culture of environmental responsibility,” Bactad said. 

She also assured the continuous and intensified efforts of DILG Tarlac and the province for a greener and better environment.

Other winners under the municipal category were Cristo Rey in Capas and Matayum-tayum in La Paz who tied in second place. 

Landing in fourth place was San Nicolas in Concepcion, followed by San Pedro in Bamban who settled in fifth place. 

Among the indicators of the audit were the existence of the Barangay Solid Waste Management Committee (BSWMC); functionality of BSWMC; existence and implementation of the Barangay Solid Waste Management Action Plan/Program; existence and implementation of the barangay ordinance on No Segregation, No Collection. 

Additionally, the percentage of households that practice segregation; barangay ordinance on the three policies: no littering, illegal dumping and open burning; implementation of the said three policies; existence of functional Barangay Material Recovery Facility; existence and functionality of an enforcement team for solid waste management; and establishment of barangay community garden. 

The top performing villages, who bagged P30,000 each, will represent the province of Tarlac in the regional assessment. 

Winners were validated and selected by the Provincial Assessment Committee composed of representatives from DILG, Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office, Provincial Government-Tarlac Environment and Natural Resources Office, Bigkis Task Force, and Philippine Information Agency.

BECA was launched as part of the Manila Bay Clean-Up Rehabilitation and Preservation Program  (MBCRPP) to assess and encourage the compliance of barangays with the relevant Ecological Solid Waste Management Laws Act of 2000. 

MBCRPP aims to restore the water quality of the bay in accordance with the Supreme Court Mandamus in 2016. (PIA 3)