As sustainability tool, Cebu urged to embrace Permaculture concept

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuanos are encouraged to apply the principles of permaculture to build a sustainable community and create a liveable ecosystem.

Bert Peeters, permaculture designer of Cabiokid Foundation, said that the permaculture principle of maximizing nature is one of the key solutions towards sustainability.

Peeters was in Cebu over the weekend to speak at the Permaculture orientation and coordination meeting organized by the Rotary Club of Cebu and attended by members of different local government units and the private sector at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation.

Cabiokid is a permaculture development site situated on a 5.5-hectare property in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija that serves as an integrated farm designed and managed in accordance with the ethics and principles of permaculture.

According to Peeters, permaculture is an ecological design system for sustainability that involves building natural habitats, food production, resource management, renewal cycles, restoration of damaged ecosystem, and recycling of rainwater in partnership with nature.

He clarified that agriculture is part of permaculture as the latter pertains to permanent agriculture and the continuity of life in general. 

“We need to be informed and we need to do it ourselves. It’s not only about agriculture but also the culture to shape and recreate the earth into a better society, not destroying but enhancing the natural ecosystem and maximize the natural resources,” he explained.

Peeters also said that it’s time to break the cycle of Filipino’s dependence and their tendency to be passive and replace such with the ability to recreate things, take responsibility and take care of the environment. 

“We should not wait for the funds from the government. We can all plant trees and fruits and it doesn’t even cost money. We just need to know the proper way of doing it. The key towards the power to change is to break the natural way of thinking that we cannot do anything,” he said.

Peeters pointed out that Cebuanos can also be locally productive on their own through permaculture.

With furniture as the major export of Cebu, Peeters said that locals could plant their own bamboo, rattan and abaca. That way furniture makers need not import raw materials, adding more fuel to a bigger potential of the industry with cheaper operational costs.

He added that the private sector can spearhead the notion to change the mindset by showing to the public the application of permaculture in their operations thereby establishing a healthy environment in the business.

“Cebu has all the potentials, attributes. It has booming industries. It is a very nice location and nice place to live in. We should be able to enjoy it more through permaculture, sustainable development, green thinking and designing. We have to help the residents learn permaculture as a potential tool in improving the city scape. It’s the only way and the best way for us to move forward,” he stated.

Lester Lotzof, immediate past president of the Rotary Club of Cebu, believes that the key principles of permaculture and the smart city concept would be a harmonious model to effectively implement the projects of    Mega Cebu that is aimed to redesign Cebu to become more liveable and sustainable. 

Lotzof is also member of the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board that is currently working on the masterplan of the project.

In partnership with the Permaculture Action Asia, Pag-asa sa Paglaya and Philippine Permaculture Network, the Rotary Club of Cebu is organizing a sequence of training programs on permaculture as part of a matching grant.

The organization will conduct a detailed two-week training program within January and February next year to develop a pool of 30 to 40 trained experts who will be able to assist in project design and implementation, and promote permaculture awareness in Cebu. (FREEMAN)