Nurse Susie Calls to 'Cut Plastic Use, Choose Reusables' in Hospital Roadshow in Tacloban City

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"Change old habits at mag-segregate"

"Cut plastics dahil ito ay waste"

“Commit to reusable na mga gamit”

“Champion sustainability ang ating awit”


These are the first lines of a jingle that played as mascot 'Nurse Susie' entered the Out-Patient Department of the Eastern Visayas Medical Center in Tacloban City to promote toxics-free and zero-waste practices in hospitals during a road show organized by the Philippine Healthcare and Mercury Wastes Management Project (HCWM Project).

The lyrics reflect the 4Cs slogan of Nurse Susie: Change Old Habits, Cut Plastics, Commit to Reuse, and Champion Sustainability.

Now on its second leg, the Nurse Susie Roadshow is part of the Toxics-Free Hospitals Campaign of the HCWM Project, promoting the reduction and proper management of healthcare waste to protect public health and the environment. Nurse Susie was first introduced in January and is the central character of the campaign. The road show kicked off last week in Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC) and is set to go to Cagayan Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in April.


According to Jam Lorenzo, HCWM Project Manager and BAN Toxics Deputy Executive Director, key to the Toxics-Free Hospitals Campaign is the reduction of waste generated by hospitals, especially plastics.

“Minimizing plastic use is one of the ways to ease the burden of high waste volumes for hospitals. Plastics are a potential source of toxic chemicals in the environment, and when burned, can emit unintentional persistent organic pollutants (UPOPs) such as dioxins and furans,” Lorenzo added.

Last year, the HCWM Project conducted waste audits in CVMC, EVMC, and QMMC, which revealed that more than 70% of the waste composition of each hospital is plastics.

In EVMC, the initial audit report showed that plastics make up 78% of the total waste composition — 54% from infectious waste, indicating extensive use of medical textiles, sanitary products, and other medical plastics in patient-care areas, and 24% from general or non-hazardous waste, showing that even non-clinical areas are significant contributors to plastic waste. These include plastic foodware and other single-use plastics such as 'labo' bags and sachets.

According to Lorenzo, among the interventions of the HCWM Project is looking into reusable Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to replace single-use disposables. Meanwhile, the campaign is promoting reusable items such as food and water containers, cloth bags, and face masks to the general public.

"While the majority of plastics in hospitals come from patient-care, reducing dependence on single-use plastics by hospital clients and visitors can significantly help reduce plastic waste. Healthcare waste management is a public health and environmental concern, and thus everyone shares the responsibility," Lorenzo said.

Nurse Susie and the Toxics-Free Hospitals Campaign is also promoting proper waste segregation, one of the key issues faced by hospitals. Poor segregation and handling often cause contamination, effectively converting general waste into hazardous waste. Hazardous and infectious healthcare wastes are required to undergo treatment first before disposal, which entails added cost for the hospitals.

One of the main interventions of the HCWM Project is the adoption of low- or zero-emission non-burn waste treatment technologies for healthcare facilities to reduce the release of toxic and hazardous chemicals into the environment.


About the project:

The Philippine Healthcare and Mercury Wastes Management Project aims to strengthen healthcare waste management nationwide, with a special focus on reducing emissions of hazardous substances such as dioxins and furans and ensuring the safe and proper disposal of mercury. The project is implemented by UNIDO and the DENR-EMB, with funding support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and BAN Toxics as the executing partner.


DepEd, DOLE expand Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair nationwide to support SHS, ALS jobseekers

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QUEZON CITY, 25 March 2026 — The Department of Education (DepEd) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) are expanding the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) to at least two schools in every region nationwide to help senior high school and Alternative Learning System (ALS) graduates transition more easily from school to work.

The initiative is part of the Bagong Pilipinas agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration, which seeks to bring government services closer to communities and open more employment pathways for Filipino youth.

The nationwide rollout follows the successful pilot implementation of the program, which connects learners directly to employers while allowing them to process pre-employment requirements in one location.

During the nationwide launch at Batasan Hills National High School in Quezon City, Education Secretary Sonny Angara said the initiative also responds to the challenges faced by families amid global economic pressures and rising costs.

“Sa panahon na nararamdaman ng maraming pamilya ang epekto ng krisis sa ekonomiya at pagtaas ng presyo ng mga bilihin, mahalaga na inilalapit ng pamahalaan ang mga serbisyo at oportunidad sa ating mga kabataan,” Angara said.

“Sa pamamagitan ng Serbisyo Fair, hindi na kailangang gumastos at pumunta pa sa iba’t ibang tanggapan upang makuha ang mga dokumentong kailangan para makapaghanapbuhay,” he added.

Under the program, learners can secure pre-employment-related documents such as police and NBI clearances, PhilHealth registration, and other requirements that are often needed by first-time jobseekers.

DOLE Undersecretary Carmela I. Torres of the Employment and Human Resource Development Cluster said the partnership between DepEd and DOLE strengthens efforts to ensure that young Filipinos are able to transition more smoothly from education to employment or what we call school-to-work transition.

“Through this partnership, we are bridging the gap between academic preparation and the realities of the labor market. Our goal is to increase employability and expand access to the employment opportunities of Senior highschool graduates through this Serbisyo Fair,” Undersecretary Torres said.

Private companies also participate in the fairs, offering job vacancies and conducting recruitment activities directly in schools.

Initial results from the pilot rollout showed strong participation from both government agencies and private employers. In nine schools across Metro Manila, Sorsogon, Talisay City in Cebu, and Panabo City in Davao del Norte, 300 learners were hired on the spot, while 1,428 beneficiaries availed themselves of free government clearances and other employment-related services.

Around 600 learners joined the launch event in Batasan Hills National High School, together with more than 20 private companies offering job vacancies and recruitment opportunities.

The expansion of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair will allow more graduates across the country to access employment opportunities, government services, and career pathways as they begin entering the workforce.

𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐚 𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐖𝐅, 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐨𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚 𝐬𝐚 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐲𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐰𝐚 𝐧𝐠 𝐕𝐂𝐀𝐃

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Nagpulong ang Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) at Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) noong 10 Marso 2026, 10:00 nu, sa tanggapan ng Korte Suprema hinggil sa tuntuning ipinatutupad ng Korte Suprema sa Filipino Sign Language (FSL) sa Hudikatura.



Nilinaw ng dalawang panig ang mga proseso sa pagsasagawa ng Visual Communication Assessment for the Deaf (VCAD) kabilang ang pagtalakay sa dokumentasyon at pagbabayad sa Deaf Assessor, alinsunod sa A.M. No. 21-12-04-SC (Re: Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Filipino Sign Language Act). Nakaangkla rin ito sa Batas Republika 11106 o FSL Act na naglalayong palakasin ang akses ng Deaf Community sa mga serbisyong panghudikatura at maisulong ang ingklusibidad na pamamahala bilang tugon sa Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations (SPJI) ng Korte Suprema.

Dumalo mulâ sa KWF si Dr. Benjamin M. Mendillo Jr., Komisyoner sa Pangasiwaan at Pananalapi, kasáma ang Yunit ng FSL sa pangunguna ni G. Patrick Bryan Q. Ablaza, Senior Deaf Advocacy Officer; Bb. Diana Pria Vizmanos, Deaf Advocacy Officer; at mga Admin Assistant na sina Bb. Nicah Lagrimas at Bb. Mitzi Mae Tabao. Kinatawan naman nina Hon. Lilian Barribal-Co, Assistant Court Administrator, at Atty. Andrea Mae E. Oraciln ang OCA.