THE world has changed from what it looked like decades ago. And sadly, this change was not all positive. Day by day, the environment has gone worse as its inhabitants fail to manage its wastes and indiscriminately use its natural resources.
However, there are still a few who conduct green initiatives that aim to preserve and care for the environment and they should be acknowledged because their initiatives will be the hope of the next generation.
The Lunhaw Awards, an annual event organized in partnership with the Davao City government and Interface Development Interventions (IDIS) Inc., which recognizes green initiatives that could be replicated in the communities in the city, held its 6th awarding at the Grand Men Seng Hotel last September 26, 2018.
Although all of the entries were worth replicated, the judges need to choose only 12; hence they are still given recognition and consolation prizes.
“All of them, however, whether finalist or awardee, form part of the Lunhaw Network, along with all past finalists or awardees since 2012. They continue to meet for knowledge-sharing and participate in exposure visits to each other's sites,” Florence Baula, head organizer of Lunhaw Awards said in an email to SunStar.
“Through the Lunhaw Network, we are able to sustain and promote the green initiatives in Davao City,” she added.
Awarded the 2018 Lunhaw Awards Green Initiatives on Urban Urban Organic Agriculture was Maxey Atog for his Small Space Urban Organic Garden; Organic Agriculture Awardee was Francis Eric Tan for his La Fermette Dairy Farm to Table Concept; Jera Tahani Lambac for Green Mountain-Lunhaw Awardee (Forest-based); Nagkahiusang Mananagat sa Bago Aplaya-Lunhaw Awardee (Marine-based); Green Building of the University of Mindanao (UM)-Lunhaw Awardee (Campus-based).
Lunhaw Awardee (Energy Conservation) was Winifredo Cabatu for his Centralized Solar Water System; Baguio District United Women's Association for their Women's Plastic Strip Weaving-Lunhaw Awardee (Pollution Control); San Pablo Parish Rainwater for its Catchment System - Lunhaw Awardee (Water Conservation); Care Channels Social Enterprises Inc. - Lunhaw Awardee (Education and Advocacy); and San Roque Elementary School for its Gulayan sa Paaralan - Lunhaw Awardee (Education and Advocacy).
The event also recognized the green initiatives of the barangays in Davao City where Barangay Tacunan was hailed as most outstanding. Youth green champion award was given to Julito Burgos Dalagma.
Executive director of IDIS Chinkie Peliño-Golle said they are happy and proud of how the Lunhaw Awards has improved after 6 years and that they are happy that the LGU has finally institutionalized Lunhaw Awards and provided funds since 2017.
“We hope that more and more Dabawenyos will be recognized, promoted and supported so we can really live up to what we claim that Davao is a green and sustainable city,” she said.