DAVAO-based non-government organizations have proposed a set of new city ordinances focusing on sustainability and the environment to the 20th City Council of Davao on October 21, 2022.
During the Green Agenda Forum, the organizations focused on highlighting agendas on Climate Action, Clean Water and Sanitation, Disaster Resiliency, Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security, Waste Management, Air Quality, Good Governance, and People’s Participation.
Some of the NGOs that participated are the Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis), Masipag Mindanao, and Kinaiyahan Foundation Incorporated.
“The Davao Green Agenda was crafted to present to our local policymakers and their legal staff real-time environmental issues and problems that our city is facing. Organizations within Davao City gathered to draft this green agenda to provide solutions and/or suggestions like doable advocacy action plans, government programs, and policies that our local legislative officials can adopt,” Idis told SunStar Davao on Sunday.
Idis proposed a Marine Biodiversity Protection Ordinance and revival of the Davao Gulf Management Council in line with protecting the local marine biodiversity amid current threats.
The Davao Gulf Management Council, on the other hand, would help ensure sustainable livelihood for local fisherfolks as well as protect the existing mangrove forests.
A Pesticide Drift Ordinance, drafted by Masipag Mindanao, aims to regulate the use of pesticides and fungicides through aerial spraying, boom spraying, and knapsack spraying.
Advocacy officer Gary Villocino said the organization hopes their drafted ordinance will be adopted by the City Council.
The groups also pushed for strengthened enforcement of existing ordinances such as Ordinance No. 0298-09 Davao City Rainwater Ordinance, which promote the collection and use of rainwater for non-potable use, and storage of rainwater for flood mitigation, among others.
Idis policy advocacy officer Amelou Dawn Catague-Ferrer said the ordinance could be mainstreamed by giving incentives to establishments and households practicing rainwater harvesting.
In addition, Kinaiyahan Foundation Inc. representative Evangeline Notarte said that Ordinance No. 0500-21 No to Single-Use Plastic Ordinance should cover sando bags, labo bags, and PET bottles which are single-use items that are also widely used in the city.
She also proposed policy recommendations on waste segregation and single-use plastics that could help strengthen the implementation and enforcement of existing ordinances.
Meanwhile, Idis program coordinator EnP. Lemuel Manalo highlighted green urban initiatives including nature-based infrastructure development, sustainable transportation and drainage systems, and Clean Energy.
“Urban livability and sustainability should be the goal. We should protect the urban wetlands, prioritize urban trees over gray infrastructures, and enhance green spaces in urban planning and design,” he said.
Members of the 20th City Council councilors Temujin Ocampo, Luna Acosta, and Bonz Militar were present during the Green Agenda Forum to listen to the recommended policies and concerns of the different organizations. The councilors also bared their own green initiatives for Davao City.
Acosta said she supports the proposal for a once-a-week car-free day along Roxas Avenue. “The City Council will do its part to help create regulations and policies that will make Davao City not only environment-friendly but also sustainable in the long run,” she said.
Ocampo, who is also the chairperson of the committee on environment, said they are exploring other alternatives for waste management aside from the proposed Waste-to-Energy Incineration Facility.
Idis said that Ocampo committed to supporting the policy on the Quarry Regulation Ordinance of Davao City. A Green Information Technology project is also being lobbied by Militar to help push for environmental research.
The Green Agenda Forum, organized by Idis and Sentro ng Alternatibong Ligap Panligal (Saligan)-Mindanaw aims that these policy recommendations will be adopted by the local legislative body to address issues and concerns in various sectors of Davao City.
Saligan-Mindanaw Atty. Tanya Rosales said Davao City should have an environment code to promote the people’s participation in local governance and protection of environmental rights, and to take part in different green initiatives.
“The councilors are supportive on some of the identified policies in the Green Agenda, particularly the passage of Environment Code of Davao City. This is one of the long overdue policies that needed the attention of the legislators,” Idis said.
According to Idis, the next step would be the endorsement of copies of the Green Agenda to the councilors and note the policies and programs being pushed in the city council in line with the councilors’ commitments. ICM