EMB-Ilocos Region

04/09/2026

𝗘𝗠𝗕-𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗮 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗚𝗨 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗻𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲
The Environmental Management Bureau-Region I (EMB-I), Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU), and the Local Government Unit of Bacnotan formally signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the continued environmental surveillance in the Province of La Union, particularly on ambient air and water quality monitoring, on September 3, 2026 at the La Union Provincial Capitol in the City of San Fernando, La Union. The partnership aims to expand monitoring sites and generate science-based environmental data to support sound planning, informed decision-making, and effective environmental management in the province.

The MOA signing underscores the continuing commitment of EMB-I, the Provincial Government of La Union, and the Municipality of Bacnotan to work together in promoting environmental sustainability and ensuring that environmental management strategies are guided by accurate and timely scientific information.

Present during the ceremony were La Union Governor Mario Eduardo C. Ortega; EMB-I Regional Director Engr. Nicanor C. Esteban; Bacnotan Vice Mayor Francisco Angelito L. Fontanilla; and Provincial Board Members, Hon. Maria Rosario Eufrosina P. Nisce, Hon. Gerard G. Ostrea, Hon. Ruperto A. Rillera, Jr., and Hon. Ramon Guio A. Ortega.

Serving as witnesses were Engr. Ryanne N. Narvaez, Chief EMS, Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement Division of EMB-I; Ms. Annalyn Rosario-Valdez, Provincial Government Environment and Natural Resources Officer (PGENRO) of PGLU; Mr. Jayson Paolo E. Resultay, Supervising EMS/ Chief, Ambient Monitoring and Technical Services Section; and Ms. Roxy Pearl B. Dumo, Senior EMS/ Head Executive Assistant.

Through the strengthened partnership, EMB-I, PGLU, and the Municipality of Bacnotan reaffirmed their collective commitment to advancing environmental protection and ensuring that policies, programs, and management strategies are supported by accurate, timely, and science-based environmental data.

04/09/2026

As of 11:00 AM today, September 4, 2026, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte, remains at a GOOD level. This is based on real-time data from the Air Quality Monitoring Station at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Compound, Brgy. Quiling Sur, Batac City, Ilocos Norte.
• PM10: 16 (GOOD)
• PM2.5: 30 (GOOD)

These readings indicate that the air quality poses little to no health risk to the public.

The Environmental Management Bureau – Region I continues to monitor air quality conditions to ensure the protection of public health and the environment. Let us all work together to sustain clean and healthy air for our communities.

03/09/2026

𝐋𝐄𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐕𝐎𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐁𝐄 𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐄𝐂𝐇𝐎...!!!

𝐀𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏 𝐈𝐏 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭
"Affirming the Indigenous Way of Life, Echoing to the New Generation"

We are honored to announce the 𝐀𝐖𝐄𝐍𝐆 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝟏 𝐈𝐏 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭, presented by the 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝑰𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝑷𝒆𝒐𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒔 (𝑵𝑪𝑰𝑷) 𝑹𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝟏 in collaboration with the 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑪𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒕𝒔 (𝑵𝑪𝑪𝑨), the 𝑫𝒆𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑨𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆 (𝑫𝑨) 𝑹𝒆𝒈𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝟏, and hosted by the 𝑳𝒐𝒄𝒂𝒍 𝑮𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑼𝒏𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝑺𝒊𝒔𝒐𝒏, 𝑷𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏.

📅 Date: October 8, 2026 (Thursday)
📍 Venue: Bantay Insik Gymnasium, Sison, Pangasinan

This gathering stands as a solemn commitment to affirm the Indigenous peoples' way of life and to ensure that our cultural heritage echoes from generation to generation. Together, we will celebrate, uphold, and pass forward the wisdom of our ancestors.

Kindly share this announcement and invite those who carry our heritage close to their hearts. 🧡

"𝑴𝒂𝒔𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒕𝒖𝒕𝒖𝒃𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒂𝒎𝒂𝒚𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒏: 𝑺𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒈𝒂𝒏 𝒏𝒈 𝑷𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒈 𝑲𝒂𝒖𝒏𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒂𝒏"

03/09/2026

𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗥-𝗘𝗠𝗕 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗜 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗱 𝘄𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘀 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗼-𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹, 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗼𝘀, 𝗜𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗼𝘀 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲
The Environmental Management Bureau - Region I (EMB-I) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Burgos, Ilocos Norte, strengthened environmental awareness and responsible solid waste management among the students of Burgos Agro-Industrial School, Burgos, Ilocos Norte during the Linggo ng Kabataan 2026 Youth Forum held on August 24, 2026.

Environmental Monitoring Officers (EnMOs) Kyla Danea C. Naceno and Engr. Darell James B. Coloma of the EMB-1 Ecological Solid Waste Management Section served as resource speakers. The forum provided an avenue for the youth to deepen their understanding of environmental protection, sustainability, and their role in promoting a healthier and cleaner community.

Organized by LGU Burgos, Ilocos Norte, the Youth Forum, themed “Youth and the Environment,” aimed to enhance the students’ awareness of environmental protection, proper waste management, mental health, and personal safety through informative discussions and practical guidance. It also sought to empower the youth to adopt responsible practices, make informed decisions, and actively contribute to a safer, healthier, and more sustainable school and community.

EnMO Naceno discussed Republic Act No. 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, providing the students with an overview of the law, its objectives, and key provisions. She also explained the different classifications of waste and the corresponding color-coded bins used for proper waste segregation and disposal. The discussion highlighted waste diversion strategies, including recycling, upcycling, composting, and reuse, as practical ways to reduce the amount of waste sent to disposal facilities. Ms. Naceno also emphasized the environmental and public health consequences of improper waste management, such as soil and water contamination, air pollution, ecosystem degradation, flooding, and the spread of diseases.

Meanwhile, Engr. Coloma discussed various solid waste management facilities, including Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs), Sanitary Landfills (SLFs), and Special Waste Storage Facilities, emphasizing their respective functions in ensuring an effective and environmentally sound waste management system. He also provided an overview of the basic components of a sanitary landfill. Engr. Coloma further discussed Section 37 of RA 9003, which provides for the closure of open and controlled dumpsites, as well as Section 48, which identifies prohibited acts and corresponding penalties under the law. He also highlighted the varying decomposition periods of common solid waste, emphasizing that some wastes may decompose within days or months, while others can persist in the environment for several years or even decades.

Ms. Naceno and Engr. Coloma encouraged the students to apply the lessons learned by practicing proper waste segregation, reducing waste generation, reusing materials, recycling whenever possible, and disposing of residual and special wastes responsibly.

Aside from the environmental discussions, a representative from the Municipal Health Office (MHO) of the Local Government Unit of Burgos discussed mental health awareness among the youth. A representative from the Philippine National Police (PNP) also provided guidance on appropriate actions and safety measures during an active shooting incident in a school.

Ms. Naceno and Engr. Coloma were hired under the EMB Solid Waste Enforcement and Education Program (SWEEP), which ensures that all DENR Field Offices have Solid Waste Management focal personnel who shall monitor compliance of LGUs with RA 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, provide technical assistance, as well as conduct IEC activities on the said law.

03/09/2026

AIR QUALITY UPDATE | As of 6 :00 AM
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources – Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) continues to closely monitor air quality nationwide through its network of Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) to assess the extent and potential impacts of the reported haze.
The public is encouraged to stay informed and regularly check the latest air quality conditions in their respective areas.
For the latest air quality monitoring data, visit: https://air.emb.gov.ph/national-air-quality-data/

03/09/2026

02/09/2026

01/09/2026

As of 8:00 AM today, September 1, 2026, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Batac City, Ilocos Norte ranges from GOOD to FAIR level. This is based on real-time data from the Air Quality Monitoring Station located at the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Compound, Brgy. Quiling Sur, Batac City, Ilocos Norte.
• PM10: 25 (GOOD)
• PM2.5: 53 (FAIR)

These readings indicate that the air quality poses little to no health risk to the public.

The Environmental Management Bureau – Region I continues to monitor air quality conditions to ensure the protection of public health and the environment. Let us all work together to sustain clean and healthy air for our communities.