by Office of the Campus Secretary | Dec 16 2025

As a leading hub for science and technology in Mindanao, the ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ (²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ) generates significant volumes of chemical, biological, and hazardous lab waste from its intensive teaching, research, and extension activities. Recognizing this reality, the Mindanao State University (MSU) Board of Regents approved a landmark policy proposal from ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ during its en banc meeting on December 9, 2025, at the MSU-Marawi Campus.
Titled the “²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ Comprehensive Policy on Toxic Substances, Hazardous and Biological Waste Management, and Third-Party Treatment,” this 29-page document establishes a robust framework tailored to manage the University’s substantial waste output, marking a proactive step toward full regulatory compliance and ecological integrity.
The policy directly addresses risks from ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ’s lab-heavy operations by mandating proper handling, labeling, storage, transport, and disposal of materials. It aligns with key Philippine laws, including Republic Act No. 6969 (Toxic Substances and Hazardous and Nuclear Wastes Control Act of 1990), RA 9275 (Clean Water Act), RA 8749 (Clean Air Act), RA 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act), RA 11058 (Occupational Safety and Health Standards Act), and others.
Core elements include waste minimization through green procurement, chemical substitution, and recycling; integration of occupational safety and health (OSH) principles; and strict oversight of DENR-accredited third-party treaters—essential strategies given the scale of lab waste produced.
²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ Chancellor Alizdeney M. Ditucalan hailed the approval as a critical milestone for institutional responsibility.
“This policy operationalizes our commitment to safety, health, and environmental stewardship as pillars of academic excellence, especially vital for a tech hub like ours that produces high-risk wastes daily,” Ditucalan said.
“It protects our community, promotes sustainability, and positions ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ as a model for higher education in waste management,” he added.
The policy spans procurement to disposal, with defined roles for units like the Health and Safety Committee, Environmental Health & Safety Unit, and Compliance Monitoring Committee. Highlights include:
Annexes provide practical tools like a waste classification matrix (color-coded labels: yellow for chemicals, red for biological), emergency checklists, manifest registers, and penalty matrices.
Effective immediately upon approval, the policy requires forming key committees within 30 days and annual reviews. Drawing from ISO 14001 and 45001 standards, it emphasizes behavior-based safety and continuous improvement to handle ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ’s ongoing lab waste challenges.
The approval underscores MSU’s system-wide push for sustainability amid growing regulatory scrutiny on academic institutions, with ²ÝÝ®ÊÓÆµ leading by example as a science and technology powerhouse taking decisive action for compliance and ecological health.