Sustainable Cities Dialogue 2 set today

THE Movement for a Livable Cebu (MLC) invites everyone to the Sustainable Cities Dialogues 2, the second in a series of public forums that seek to make Cebu truly livable and sustainable for all.

The forum will be held today at the CAP Theater from 1 to 5:30 p.m.

Admission is free.

For many years now, thoughtful answers to the question of how Cebu should sustainably develop have remained elusive, if not muddled by intertwining factors.

While Cebu takes pride in its position as an economically vibrant city, second only to Metro Manila, resident Cebuanos and visitors are now experiencing the effects of rapid urban growth–overpopulation, high unemployment and poverty, traffic congestion, flooding, sanitation, and pollution, among others.

According to the MLC, Cebu is now at the crossroads of rapid change, and urgently
needs the collective efforts of all sectors at both public and private levels in planning and creating its future.

The group said it is in the context of seeking to help address the growing threats to Cebu’s future as an exciting and livable home and workplace, that this public forum is being organized, following the highly successful Sustainable Cities Dialogues 1, which
featured Dr. AbdouMalique Simone and Architect Senen Antonio as guest speakers.

The series of Sustainable Cities Dialogues particularly seeks to engage the general public in envisioning the “Cebu of our dreams” and to be involved in making this happen.

MLC lead convener Marc Canton urged everyone to attend and support today’s forum.

Speakers

The forum will feature two highly-accomplished Cebuanos as guest speakers. They are Dr. Primitivo Cal, and Vice Mayor Alfredro A. Arquillano of San Francisco town, Camotes Island, Cebu.

Dr. Cal is a professor at the School for Urban and Regional Planning of the University of the Philippines, and has been recognized for his work in improving the planning system and functions of transportation infrastructure in urban development.

Vice Mayor Arquillano, on the other hand, has drawn international recognition for making his municipality (during his stint as mayor), self-reliant in coastal resource management and environmental protection, solid waste management and disaster risk reduction.

Using the concept of the “purok” system, Arquillano transformed San Francisco into a study tour learning destination for environmental protection, disaster preparedness and resiliency and solid waste management.

He won the United Nations Sasakawa Award for disaster risk reduction in 2011.

For more information about the Sustainable Cities Dialogues 2 and MLC, one may contact Loy Alix at 0920-9281566, Teresa Ruelas at 0915-6474666, or Peachy Fajatin at 0922-8508144.