AIJC will soon conduct information, education, and communication (IEC) activities to discourage open burning, a common practice in the Philippines that causes serious health and environmental problems. AIJC President Ramon Tuazon and Vice President Imelda Samson are the designated IEC project specialists.

Open burning of agriculture residue and domestic waste as well as fires at landfills and open dumps give rise to unintentionally produced persistent organic pollutants (UPOPs), which have adverse health effects on humans. As a signatory to the Stockholm Convention, the Philippines is committed to adopt measures to reduce or eliminate releases from UPOPs.

The Institute was selected by AECOM to be its partner in this initiative. AECOM is a global provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad range of specializations, including transportation, energy, and water. The IEC activities are part of the project, “Demonstration of Best Available Technologies (BATs) and Best Environmental Practices (BEPs) in Open Burning Activities in Response to the Stockholm Convention of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs),” implemented by the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR) and United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) through a grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).