DENR adopts Argao as pilot ecological town

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/local-news/2016/10/09/denr-adopts-argao-pilot-ecological-town-502462
• Sunday, October 9, 2016

(PR)

THE Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has adopted the municipality of Argao as a pilot eco logical town and has expressed commitment to support the town’s initiatives in solid waste management program.

“Among nakita ang Argao nga grabe ka-committed gikan sa mayor ngadto sa barangay, dako na gyud ang iyang nahimo sama niining environmental summit (We have seen that Argao is very committed, from the mayor down to the barangay, it has achieved many things like this),” said Rechale Ybanez, senior environmental management specialist and focal person of the Regional Ecology Center of DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) 7.

In an interview during the first environmental summit held recently, Ybanez said that Mayor Stanley Caminero is willing to take the challenge.

A total of 300 people participated in the summit held at the town’s training center.

The participants represented the 45 barangays, the government, the academe, the business sector, the religious sector, resort owners and the transport sector, among others.

Ybanez said that Argao by its doings has emerged as a pilot eco-town and has the full support of the DENR central office through Undersecretary for Luzon and Visayas Isabelo Montejo who is an Argaoanon.

Caminero, a surgeon, has implemented a program called, “Doers of Change (DOC),” starting with the market vendors and tricycle drivers.

They initiated the full implementation of the ordinances, like “no smoking, no littering, and the traffic rules and road courtesy.”

As part of the change, the mayor initiated the summit to involve all sectors in the town’s green program.

“There is a problem and the people is part of its solution,” said Caminero.

Funds

Vice Mayor Allan Sesaldo, for his part, said they will come up with a legislation to request for the needed funds.

Ybanez said they have allotted P300,000 for the construction of a material recovery facility (MRF) for clustered barangays and will continue to provide Argao the technical assistance.

They will also facilitate grants and help implement the adopt-a-barangay program and help access grants for the barangays from the Philippine Environmental Foundation.

Meanwhile, Engr. Eliza Madarazo, head of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Davao City said they are also working on a partnership with Argao to replicate their experience in terms of Green governance.

Madrazo shared during the summit the Davao experience and how it took them five years before the residents adopted it as a way of life.

Also, former San Francisco, Camotes mayor Alfredo Arquillano Jr., now a member of UN Committee on Resiliency of Cities is confident that Argao can duplicate their success.

“With the dedication of the mayor and the inclusion of all sectors there is no reason why Argao cannot do it,” said Arquillano, one of the speakers at the summit.

The activity culminated with the participants signing their signatures on the commitment wall.