Four Pollution Control Officers (PCOs) of Carlos Hilado Memorial State University (CHMSU) joined environmental practitioners and industry stakeholders at the 1st Pollution Control Officers’ (PCO) Summit in the Negros Island Region, held on October 15–16, 2026, at L’Fisher Hotel in Bacolod City.
Representing CHMSU were Engr. Marivic Casili, Engr. John Mark Benamira, Engr. Gani Gayondato Jr., and Engr. Gisele Anonoy. They participated in the two-day summit organized by the Pollution Control Association of the Philippines, Inc. (PCAPI) Region VI in collaboration with the Environmental Management Bureau–Negros Island Region (EMB-NIR). The event carried the theme, “Unmasking Tomorrow for a Cleaner, Brighter, Sustainable Negros Island Region.”
The two-day summit featured expert-led discussions and industry presentations aimed at strengthening environmental compliance and the role of Pollution Control Officers (PCOs).
Day 1 opened with a keynote address by Maria Antonia Tanchuling, PhD, Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of the Philippines–Diliman, followed by the Environmental Spotlights featuring Engr. Virgilio Fabronero on regulations, Lemar Ledesma on waste-to-resource initiatives, and Amabel Subong on translating compliance into practice.
The afternoon session, The Big Three, tackled air quality compliance with Engr. Ahlf Bryne Gonzaga, wastewater management with Engr. Cristina Ruth Desuyo, and hazardous waste management with Engr. Dward Guiller Aguirre.
The day also featured industry case stories from Black Soldier Fly, San Miguel Brewery, Inc., and the Department of Agriculture, alongside the PCAPI-NIR General Assembly.
Day 2 focused on applying environmental compliance in actual practice, beginning with Engr. Nathaniel Canillas’ “Reconnect: What Pressured Us Yesterday?” and Engr. Paul Wellen Orosio’s session on making compliance work.
A fireside discussion titled Beyond the Checklist featured Amabel Subong, Susan Benitez, and Engr. Cristina Ruth Desuyo, followed by Karen Zamora’s discussion on the people behind compliance and Engr. Jaypee Ayala’s Inside the Inspection.
The final sessions included “The Next Move” with Jennifer Dayon, PCO Voices, and the summit synthesis, Build What Comes Next, which encouraged participants to turn key insights into concrete environmental compliance actions.
The summit provided a platform for PCOs and environmental practitioners to strengthen their knowledge of current environmental policies, regulatory requirements, technological innovations, and best practices in pollution prevention and environmental management.
