This city has received a coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) waste storage and disposal facility from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), an official said Wednesday.

Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista said the facility, worth PHP6.5 million, was turned over Tuesday afternoon to the local government by DENR-Soccsksargen (Region 12) officials led by Engr. Kristeen Kreem Villanueva, DENR-12 chief of the Chemical Hazardous Waste Materials Section – Environmental Management Bureau.

“It is a preliminary disinfection and storage facility for collected Covid-19 related wastes for this city,” Evangelists said in a statement.

The facility is a 20-footer container van that can haul 4.5 metric tons of Covid-19 waste materials.

It also has 63 yellow bins with rollers; 3,150 pieces of yellow trash bags to seal infectious wastes mounted with wood platforms and steel framing for support.

Villanueva said the storage facility is designed to properly handle and control the disposal of infectious wastes and materials that could transmit illnesses.

Evangelista assured to properly utilize the facility to achieve its objective for public safety, including all frontliners from hospitals and medical facilities here. (PNA)