WEBINAR: YOUTH FOR NATURE/WRITE AND DESIGN FOR NATURE
Youth around the globe are seizing the opportunity to commemorate World Environment Day by initiating awareness events and sharing ideas with family and community members on how to protect the environment. Youth are increasingly using the power of their collective voice to advocate, lobby, and lead campaigns towards adopting environmentally-friendly practices and policies. As more youth grow up in a world characterized by advanced technologies and information sharing, many are harnessing this opportunity to create innovative, sustainable environmental solutions. This digital method of influencing and expressing advocacy is further intensified because of the global pandemic which forced us to physically distant ourselves and making outdoor campaigns nearly impossible to be done. Youth can be valuable partners and resources in helping protect our environment and in addressing environmental concerns. They have the power to make a difference in their communities, but often need the encouragement of people before taking on the challenges of environmental stewardship. IDIS as an environmental NGO has been working on encouraging youth to take part and action in our advocacy thru activities such as tree growing, water monitoring, and other events that promote environmental awareness. In celebration with the Philippine Environment Month, IDIS hosted its first #GreenQuarantine Webinar Series entitled, “Youth for Nature: Envisioning a Better Tomorrow” which discussed different environmental topics to educate and encourage environmental stewardship among the youth. There were invited speakers from all over the Philippines who talked about sustainable agriculture, sustainable transportation, mitigation and adaptation on climate change, sustainable lifestyle, and proper waste management. This activity was attended by almost 100 youth. Talks were given by Agr. Justin Paolo Interno (Campaigner at I Am HampasLupa Ecological Agriculture Movement Inc.), Luna Maria Dominique Acosta (Legal Staff of the Office of Councilor Mabel Acosta), Ms. Maria Jaya Ariola (Founding Member of Linghod Organization in Negros Island), Mr. John Leo Algo (Program Manager of Climate Action for Sustainability Initiative), Mr. Alexis Sebote (Founder of TrikEco Tour: Sikad Para sa Limpyong Dagat) Professor Deign Frolley Soriana, Faculty of UP-Baguio Department of Biology, called for youth action. He said that we are all connected to nature and we need to protect not only the flora and fauna but also the people and community. Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., Chair for Committee on Environment, also joined the webinar and gave his solidarity message. He said that webinars such as these are important because not everybody feels a sense of urgency in fighting for the environment. The Dean of College of Law of USEP and incoming member of IDIS Board of Trustee, Atty. Jesus Villardo III also emphasized the need to protect and conserve our environment since we just borrowed it from the future generation. Below is the recorded video of the webinar Besides, IDIS also held an essay writing and infographics making competition for the secondary school students of Davao City. The Write and Design for Nature provided an avenue for our youth to write or create infographics on different aspects of the environment such as Healthy Watersheds, Wildlife Protection, Urban Livability, and Forest Conservation. The online activity received 21 entries for essay writing and 5 entries for infographics. With the help of our credible and esteemed judges, we were able to determine this year’s winners. Jose Neil Andrew Tumulak’s essay entitled Cities of the Future from ADDU-SHS won the first place in essay writing while Aqua Matters written by Hannah Alpha from Mintal Comprehensive High School and Jose Gabriel Cinches’ Urban Progress: A Commute Through Time from ADDU (SHS) placed 2nd and 3rd, respectively. 4th place: The Heirs: How the Youth can Embrace the Role as the Successor of Environmental Problems (Stella Marie Ballega-UM Ilang High School) 5th place: Into the Woods: Sanctuary’s Secured Survival (Xyza P. Facun-F. Bangoy National High School) 6th place: Revisit the Future: Intergenerational Responsibility (Leovir John P. Banguran-University of Mindanao) 7th place: Beat a Retreat: Exiting from an Eco-catastrophe (Assumption College of Davao) 8th place: Pangangalaga sa Kagubatan (Jonjon Panungcat-Maa National High School) 8th place: Feathers of a Bird (Aya Shikinah Hibaler-Mintal Comprehensive High School) 9th place: Youth: The Hope of Nature (Kharylle Isabelle Navaluna- Maa National High School) 9th Place: Youth: Wildlife’s Golden Voice (Joricel Tarnate-Maa National High School) 10th place: Desires of the Untamed: The Youth Call on Wildlife Protection (Cheene Jean Languido-Univesity of Immaculate Conception) 10th place: One Last Generation, One Final Stand (Kevin Roy Tee-Davao Christian High School) For the infographics making contest, Jeselle Cambalon from UIC got the first place while Leandro Ramirez from DCNHS and John Kennith Ballega from UM Ilang HS settled at 2nd and 3rd place, respectively. They were awarded with certificates, cash, and their outputs will be published on Mindanao Times paper – the official media partner of IDIS for the activity.
WEBINAR: Tradition of Conservation: Sharing Indigenous Knowledge System and Practices based on Traditional Conservation of Nature
In celebration with the International Day of World’s Indigenous Peoples, IDIS conducted a webinar entitled “Tradition of Conservation: Sharing Indigenous Knowledge System and Practices based on Traditional Conservation of Nature” last August 20, 2020. The webinar aims to educate the people on the indigenous knowledge in the conservation of the environment from three different tribes – Teduray, Aetas, and Matigsalug. It also aims to raise awareness in breaking the discrimination amongst indigenous peoples. The invited speakers were Mr. Allan Ollubalang of Teduray Tribe, Mr, Julieto Dalagma of Matigsalug Tribe, and Mr. Melvin Guilleno of Manobo-Agusan Tribe. They featured their indigenous knowledge and best practices in helping to conserve and protect the environment. Moreover, Mrs, Thelma Ubod, Bantay Bukid Volunteer, also shared her experiences and effort in protecting the conservation areas of Panigan-Tamugan Watershed and Mt. Tipolog as well. Moreover, Atty. Geroncio Aguio, Regional Director of National Commission of Indigenous Peoples XI, also gave his message calling all people to help in the conservation of traditional knowledge and practices of indigenous peoples. You can watch the full video of the webinar below.
WEBINAR: DISASTER RESILIENCY AWARENESS WEBINAR
IDIS conducted its 2nd Series of #GREENQUARANTINE Webinar entitled Sustainability amidst Climate Change and the Pandemic. The webinar featured the plans and best practices of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Offices (DRRMO) of Davao City, Tagum City, and Koronadal City. These plans were shared and discussed by the invited speakers from aforementioned offices. Mr. Lyndon Ancajas, Administrative and Training Officer of DRRMO Davao City, shared that they have updated their plans for the years 2020-2025 and it has been approved and adopted by the City Government. Ancajas also presented the Local Climate Change Action Plan of the City. He also shared their best practices preparedness programs such as mangrove tree planting on the coastal areas of Davao City, regular conduct of drills and exercises to different offices, establishments, and universities of the city, trainings for community responders, and the installation of remote city wide sirens. One of the highlights of DRRMO’s practices is the launching of Davao City Disaster Radio 87.5 which is funded by the LGU. This radio station serves as an avenue to public service announcements of the local government especially in the midst of this pandemic. Mr. Giovanni L. Rellon, Head of Office of CDRRMO Tagum City, shared their disaster management programs and practices in Tagum City. He shared that they do benchmarking to different cities and apply it to theirs. They also shifted their plans to reach the grass roots communities that are vulnerable to various disasters. They conducted trainings to the communities for them to fully understand what to do during a disaster. They also included other sectors of the community and build partnerships to help them in disaster reduction and management. Ms. Eva Jean Mondana, LDRRMO Officer I of Koronadal City presented their programs and activities such as the Search for Best Prepared Barangay subjected to evaluation using the Gawad Kalasag tool based on the four thematic areas of NDRRMP – prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and rehabilitation and recovery. The implementation of their program is coupled with the capacity building or empowerment interventions by its CDRRMC. They facilitated disaster management training to the twenty-seven barangays of Koronadal City to raise awareness and encourage people to be more active on the participation of DRRMO activities.. They also have partnership to different establishments of the city such as hospitals, malls, transportation companies, and other private sectors for resource mobilization. Presently, the City Government of Koronadal launched its KORONA-911 which serves as an emergency communication and information dissemination and response coordination facility that operates non-stop in response to COVID-19 pandemic. Best porn site https://noodlemagazine.com – Watch porn. Moreover, the Environment Research Specialist of IDIS EnP Lemuel Lloyd Manalo discussed their compilation of studies regarding enhancing disaster mitigation and resiliency through sustainable urban designs. He presented to the participants three IDIS research studies – Rainwater Harvesting Assessment, Case Studies on Permeable Pavement & Sustainable Drainage System, and Urban Green Zones Geo-spatial Assessment, Proposed Plans & Designs. These studies can give ideas to the partners in South Central Mindanao on how to incorporate sustainability in planning disaster risk reduction and management. Mr. Ludwig O. Federigan, Head of Information and Knowledge Management Division of Office of the Climate Change Commission, also challenged the participants to act against climate change and for climate justice. He emphasized that we need to put forward stronger adaptation and mitigation measures to ensure that all Filipinos will survive and thrive in this challenging times. Mr. John Arnel Villacorte, DRRM Coordinator of DepEd XI also gave his solidarity message which highlighted the role of the academic institutions in building disaster resilient communities. Sir Arnold Vandenbroeck, IDIS Board of Trustee, ended the webinar reminding everybody to take more care of the environment to mitigate future disasters and pandemic like this. Click here to watch the video.
WEBINAR: FLATTENING THE WASTE AND COVID-19 CURVE HIGHLIGHTS
Proper waste management is one of the prevailing issues during this pandemic. The current COVID-19 pandemic is rapidly spreading, thus intensifying its impact upon the world’s healthcare systems and economy. During this time, ensuring reliable and safe municipal solid waste management services provision is a must for all local governments to protect public health and contain the spread of the virus. There are many questions regarding the management of household and hospital wastes that could be impacted by the Coronavirus, or COVID-19. Generally, the management of wastes should continue as normal. Care should be taken to limit direct exposure to waste using best management practices. Waste and recyclable material handlers and haulers should continue to wear personal protective equipment including gloves and eye protection while handling solid wastes. The Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) organized an online forum Flattening the (Waste and Covid-19) Curve: An Online Forum on Waste Management amidst COVID-19 Pandemic on April 27, 2020, which provides a wonderful opportunity to address the protocols and updates on how are we managing and properly disposing of medical/healthcare wastes during this pandemic, updates about the banning of SUP policy in Davao City. IDIS invited credible resource personnel. Each speaker is an expert of their respective field. The speakers of the forum were Dr. Sophie Manuel (EMB Region 11 Director), Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., Engr. Lakandiwa Orcullo (CENRO IEC-Head), Curtis Lazarraga the Chief of Health and Sanitation Division (City Health Office), Aileen Lucero (Ecowaste Coalition). The activity was participated by almost 60 participants. According to Dr. Sophie Manuel, one of the resource persons of the forum, “any crisis presents the opportunity to help us cultivates compassion and increase resilience while building safer and caring community”, with this being said, if we want to contain this pandemic everyone should be part of it and right now, all of us have a contribution in the accumulation of garbage and wastes, a concern was raised in this discussion which is the increasing use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) of medical practitioners and on the latter part plastics for take-out food. World Health Organization (WHO) and the Department of Health (DOH) mandates that equipment like PPEs should only be used ones, after that it should properly be disposed of. In connection with this every day, our city is expecting thousands of garbage bags being collected in the hospitals and/or medical facilities, 90-95 trucks per day. Engr. Lakandiwa Orcullo, CENRO-IEC Head, mentioned that garbage collectors are not the one who is in charge of medical waste collection. Since solid waste is defined as non-hazardous it means there is a separate entity that collects these kinds of wastes, this registered transporter were the ones who collects medical waste. They always follow standard protocols such as 15 meters allowance from vehicles to vehicles and also a report of compliance shall be made after collection, for their protection and safety. The registered transporters should be exempted from any travel ban and should also not be hampered by any checkpoints. Right after the collection, this will be directly delivered to Maya Med Waste Corp. a company that Recycles and treats miscellaneous waste products. Going through the discussion, Engr. Lakandiwa Orcullo said the CENRO is in big challenge knowing the risk of the highly contagious disease is in serious disposition for the employees. “There is really a risk on our garbage collectors here in Davao, the city government considers garbage collection as an essential service to the people despite the quarantine,” Orcullo stated. On the second part of the forum, the question and answer portion, a question was raised by one of the participants stating that there is an increase of plastics for take-out food since everyone resorts to take-out instead of dining in, this was then justified by Ms. Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of Ecowaste Coalition, since relief goods, food delivery is all packed in a single-use plastics. Orcullo doubted that this is true because no statistic will show that it has been increasing. Councilor Diosdado Mahipus Jr., seconded Orcullo’s statement, regardless, they still acknowledge that somehow this might be true in some areas, but unfortunately, their hands are tight because of COVID-19. They said, what we can do for now is to reuse and recycle these plastics, there is no way we can repack these relief goods without using single-use plastics. Councilor Mahipus also mentioned that because of the pandemic, the ordinance of Banning-Single-Used-Plastic was postponed, they will not able to implement until such time that submitted condition will best for its approval. Atty. Diosdado Mahipus Jr. reminded the people of our shared responsibility for taking care of the environment. Atty. Mahipus emphasized that we should act as one, especially during this pandemic. Mr. Curtis Lazarraga, Chief, Health and Sanitation Division, City Health Office, stated that the treatment facility is taking care of the medical waste. CENRO is also taking responsibility for solid waste. While Ms. Lucero explains her concern about the decrease of the statistics of garbage collection may it be hazardous or not because the possibility of transmission of COVID 19 from these wastes is still higher since the virus can stay longer on surfaces. Everyone should be reminded of proper sanitation and safety in this so-called new normal, always wear a mask, wash your hands, physical distancing, and proper disposal of garbage. The forum covered several issues in proper disposal of garbage may it be hazardous or not and it has been addressed properly. Now the ball is on us, if we are to follow basic protocols in the new normal or not, it may be simple if you think of it, but some of us still try to defy the new normal, maybe it is difficult for us to adapt change in just a little amount of time, perhaps the reason why we are always left behind. It is time to reflect, are we going to continue with our old ways or simply adapt to the change that can save