“Environment protection and utilization are much as a legislative work,” uttered Atty. Jason Cunanan, Representative of Vice Mayor Atty. Medical negligence can greatly impact your life. Visit oliverilaw com to explore your options. Qualified professionals can help you secure the justice you deserve. Make informed decisions to protect your well-being. J. Melchor Quitain, Jr., during the Green Agenda Forum organized by the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) and Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN) – Mindanaw at Grand Men Seng Hotel earlier this day.
The Green Agenda is composed of policy recommendations from various sectors of environmental civil society organizations. Through the Green Agenda Forum, the group aims for the current City Council to adopt the policy recommendations.
Organizations from various fields of environmental advocacies, such as Watershed Protection, Organic Farming, Urban Livability, Waste Management, and People’s Participation, proposed their agenda to the attending councilors and representatives of other council members.
Proposed Green Agenda
The proposed agenda includes Climate Action, Clean Water and Sanitation, Disaster Resiliency, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, Waste Management, Air Quality, Good Governance, and People’s Participation.
Ms. Amelou Dawn Catague-Ferrer, IDIS Policy Advocacy Officer, talked about the ridge-to-reef protection of the watershed. She highlighted that there should be strict compliance with the Watershed Code of 2007, as the said code protects and manages the different watersheds of Davao, particularly the conservation and agroforestry-non-tillage areas. Catague-Ferrer presented existing and emerging threats near the watershed areas, such as livestock and poultry farms, quarry operations, and mono-crop plantations. She recommended having an ordinance about these problems integrating health and the environment.
Apart from these issues, she also mentioned the mainstreaming of Rainwater Harvesting Ordinance through incentivizing practicing establishments and households.
IDIS also stands for the realignment of the Samal Island Davao City Connection Bridge to protect the coral reefs and marine biodiversity in Davao Gulf. With this, IDIS lobbies for a Marine Biodiversity Protection Ordinance and the revival of the Davao Gulf Management Council to ensure sustainable livelihood for fisherfolks and to protect existing mangrove forests.
Mr. Gary Ben Villocino, MASIPAG Mindanao Advocacy Officer, strongly urged for the monitoring of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and instead promote and strengthen organic agriculture to other farmers and people in general. He also emphasized the effects of GM Corn on the environment. He explained that for every 1 kilogram of GM Corn, a total of 3 kilograms of topsoil will be eroded.
Villocino also requested the councilors to adopt their drafted Pesticide Drift Ordinance that will regulate the use of pesticides and fungicides, whether through aerial spraying, boom spraying, or knapsack spraying.
Ms. Evangeline Notarte, PHINLA Project Coordinator, proposed policy recommendations on Waste Segregation and Single-Use Plastics. Although these issues have already existing policies, strengthening and strict implementation should be done. She reiterated the principle of reducing, reusing, and recycling and emphasized that Waste-to-Energy Incineration is a false solution to addressing the waste problem. She also said that the Regulation of Single-Use Plastics Ordinance in Davao City should be extended to sando bags, labo bags, and PET bottles, as these materials are conveniently available and most used by the people.
EnP. Lemuel Lloyd Manalo, the IDIS Program Coordinator, recommended solutions to address the urban sprawl in the City. Urban sprawl refers to the mismanagement of land uses in urban areas leading to settlement congestion, traffic and pollution.
Investing in Nature-based Infrastructure development, Sustainable Transportation, Sustainable Drainage Systems, and Clean Energy are direct solutions to addressing pressing issues in the City.
“Urban livability and sustainability should be the goal. We should protect the urban wetlands, prioritize urban trees over gray infrastructures, and enhance green spaces in urban planning and design,” EnP. Manalo said.
SALIGAN-Mindanaw Atty. Tanya Rosales envisions a smart, sustainable, and green Davao City. In attaining this, Davao City should enact a progressive environment code that institutionalizes people’s participation in local governance, recognize the rights of nature, perform devolved environmental functions, and cement partnership with civil society organizations.
Pledge of Commitments
Councilors present during the forum were Atty. Luna Acosta, Temujin Ocampo, and Bonz Militar. Representatives from the Office of Vice Mayor Quitain and Office of Councilors Braga, Justol, Advincula, Villafuerte, Abella, Abellera, Jafar, Zozobrado, Ibuyan, and Bonguyan were also present.
Councilors Ocampo, Acosta, and Militar pledged to support the actions of environmental groups toward a greener and more sustainable city. Councilor Ocampo revealed that aside from Waste-to-Energy Incineration, they are also exploring other alternatives in waste management, such as composting. Councilor Militar also revealed that his office is working for Green Information Technology which covers research about the environment. Councilor Acosta also pledged to be one of the champions of the advocates in the City Council when it comes to environmental laws and initiatives. She revealed that she is currently pushing for a Car-Free Day every Sunday along Roxas Avenue.
“The City Council will do its part to help create regulations and policies that will make Davao City not only environment-friendly but also sustainable in the long run,” Councilor Acosta ended.