by Lorie Ann A. Cascaro
Even before the advent of El Niño and long before climate change has sunk in to the consciousness of the many, coastal clean-up had already been practiced by environmentalists as a way of preserving marine resources. In places like Davao City and the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), where beaches are major tourism key destinations, coastal clean-ups have become a regular practice, both by government and private sectors.
In its campaign to protect Davao Gulf’s biodiversity, the Philippine Environmental Governance 2 Project (EcoGov2) funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), acknowledges the contribution of coastal clean-ups but admits that it is not enough.
Advocating ridge-to-reef framework, EcoGov maintains that everything is interconnected, asking local government units (LGU) to create integrated programs concerning the uplands, lowlands and coastal areas.
There should be collaborative efforts in protecting Davao gulf because it is the common resource of 23 LGUs covering the 18 marine protected areas, the EcoGov regional manager in Mindanao said. Ferdinand S. Esguerra said they are building on what the people are already doing, such as coastal clean-ups, reforestation and proper solid waste management. EcoGov has not introduced anything new yet, he said.
EcoGov provides technical assistance in solid waste and waste water management, especially in highly urbanized areas like Davao City. IGaCoS has started to address solid waste management through the city ordinance No. 2009-156, part of it being the collection of environmental user’s fee (EUF) effective last April. City environment and natural resources office (Cenro) chief Edward M. Sisor said EUF is a special fund for protection and conservation of the environment which will be collected from users and visitors on the island.
Esguerra urges government officials to invest in environmental programs, citing a few municipalities in region 12 and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao which had already allotted significant amounts for environment projects. “Invest in environment if you want to invest in tourism,” he said referring to the concerned LGUs.
Further, Esguerra said this kind of effort should not be thought directly as a very big move that requires an enormous financial budget, but something that can be done starting in a small scope like in barangays. “The important thing is that it is being started,” he said.
Esguerra mentioned that EcoGov aims that, at the very least, LGUs practice recycling and composting, enforce laws protecting the environment, conduct information dissemination, and create ordinances for further conservation of the biodiversity.
Engineer Robert C. Quinto, president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated (DCCCII), said the chamber supports whatever programs or actions that EcoGov initiates to protect the Davao Gulf’s biodiversity. He said the chamber also has come up with a plan as part of the information and education campaign to provide cans in strategic areas to collect donations for the conservation of Davao Gulf. DCCCII and EcoGov signed a statement of cooperation for collaborative efforts in addressing environmental issues.
