THE Sustainable Davao Movement (SDM) has entered into a partnership with Barangay Tacunan in Davao City for a zero waste program in one of its puroks.
Representatives from SDM and Barangay Tacunan signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on October 1, 2020 for the project dubbed as Project Zero Waste Tacunan.
The deal was signed by Barangay Captain Arnold I. Asobe and Chinkie T. Peliño-Golle, executive director of the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis) and SDM Co-convenor.
SDM is a coalition of environmental multi-sectoral organizations in Davao City and is composed of Idis, Ecoteneo, Limadol, Break free from Plastic, and Ecowaste Coalition.
Peliño-Golle said they have chosen Barangay Tacunan as their partner for a zero waste program because of the presence of Limadol in the area. Limadol has a black soldier fly facility in the barangay.
"Second, because the barangay is very open for partnership and wants to maintain their Lunhaw initiative," she added.
Barangay Tacunan bagged the Outstanding LGU Initiatives in Environmental Protection and Management in the 6th Lunhaw Awards. The award recognizes the green initiatives of groups, individuals, and institutions.
Despite being a Lunhaw awardee, Peliño-Golle said the barangay is struggling with waste management. Hence, the barangay's willingness to participate in the Project Zero Waste Tacunan.
Under the MOU, the barangay will be the one to identify the "pilot purok" for the project.
"We will do the waste analysis of the purok and help them develop and implement a waste management plan. In the implementation, we will also assist in the IEC (information and education campaign) activities, organize capacity building sessions, setting-up and monitoring of material recovery facility, and conduct evaluation later," Peliño-Golle said.
She added that Limadol will collect all the food wastes and utilize it in their black soldier fly facility. The facility produces fertilizers and black soldier flies that will help in bio-composting.
Peliño-Golle said they also connect the purok residents to local junk shops to sell their recyclables.
"We will promote their practices and improvements in the waste management for replication of other puroks and barangays," she said.
Ecowaste Coalition and Break Free from Plastics will also take part in Project Zero Waste Tacunan.
But Peliño-Golle also said the Covid-19 pandemic may affect the implementation of the project.
"This pandemic is somehow affecting the conduct of activities because the barangay is also busy attending to their constituents. The protocols are limiting the conduct of physical activities but all these can be worked out," Peliño-Golle said.