Davao City environment code pushed

(File photo)
(File photo)

AN ENVIRONMENTAL group hopes Vice Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte will enact the City Environment Code during the 19th City Council.

Interface Development Interventions (Idis) policy advocacy specialist Mark Peñalver said they appreciate the vice mayor’s pronouncement of prioritizing environmental-related ordinances to be crafted under his three-year term.

“Iyahang statements man gud is more on sustainable developments which is mao ang gusto sa Idis nga gearing towards sustainable development sa Davao City (His statement has been more on sustainable developments, which is what Idis has been gearing for Davao City),” Peñalver Friday, July 12, during the Connect media forum at SM Lanang Premier.

He said he is optimistic that the environment code will be prioritized by the new set of councilors as this will serve as a bible of environmental policies of the city.

“Unta mapasa na kini sa term ni Vice Mayor Baste kay long overdue na kini (We hope this would be enacted under the term of Vice Mayor Baste as this has been long overdue),” Peñalver said, adding that the ordinance has been first filed by the late Councilor Leonardo Avila III.

The environmentalist also said Idis already submitted their “Three-Year Sustainable Agenda”, a legislative position paper, during the Executive and Legislative Assembly (ELA) on Thursday, July 12.

Peñalver underscored the urgency of the code since the city is undergoing various infrastructure projects, timely with the Build, Build, Build Program of the current administration.

“We wanted to ensure that the city will practice sustainable development, and we hope that this crafted code will address this,” he said.

Meanwhile, Idis environmental research specialist Lemuel Manalo said they already have a scheduled lobby appointment with the vice mayor sometime next week.

Manalo said the City Planning Development Office (CPDO) invited them to have an appointment with the vice mayor.

“We appreciate the CPDO for accommodating our recommendations and advocacies in policy making,” he told Sunstar Davao.

He also said the Council would craft and adapt some existing policies into enacted ordinances including the watershed management, organic agriculture and septage and sewerage system.

Manalo added they also appreciate Duterte who said he will entertain opposition papers from environmental groups who are against the waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration plant that is set to start its construction before the end of the year. (RGL)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph