Understanding sustainability

CEBU, Philippines - “You only love what you understand. You only understand what you’re taught,” says green practices advocate Engr. Nestor Archival.

The former Cebu City councilor, who definitely walks his talk, spoke at the Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center last November 22 for the Understanding Choices Forum dubbed “Prosperity and Planet: Engaging Business as Stewards towards Sustainable Cebu.”

He zeroed in on the need for IEC (information and education campaign) to make sustainability a byword, not only in every household, but also in most companies. “Sustainable development is a form of progress that meets needs of today without compromising the needs of tomorrow,” he pointed out.

People, like those in the business sector, must be educated first about the necessity of their participation to sustainable development. Appreciation for our natural resources can only come when people are taught that resources are already depleting and that we need to reverse the trend. If people come to understand that our lifestyle patterns have direct impact on our remaining resources, we come to love and protect the last resources of the earth. This is the sum of his discussion.

The talk came days after the observance of National Climate Change Awareness Week, which makes the event timely and more relevant.

According to EADSC executive director Evelyn Nacario-Castro, “with the threat of climate change, the need for all sectors to participate in environmental protection and conservation is of utmost importance.”

Consumption and utilization patterns, aside from an ever-growing population and scientific and technology revolutions that tend to increase life spans, have led us to an “age of consequences.” By 2050, it is expected that the Philippine population would reach an estimated 180 million.

“Kon naghuot ta karon nga 94 million pa ta, how much more three or four decades from now?” Castro posed this question.

“Take note that the population growth in the Philippines is unique in a way, as even in the rural area, population explosion is observed. Dili parehas sa una nga urban ra kusog ang birth rate,” she informed.

Sustainable dev’t is requirement to sustainability

Cebu is a major contributor to the economic growth of the country with its increasing investments and the expansions in business, trade and industry.

Yet, the traditional approaches of “my-profit-only” and “development-at-all-cost” tend to neglect the fundamental sources of life – the environment (land/soil, air and water).

Sustainability entails balance and harmony among and between economic growth, social development, and environmental stewardship. Hence, all sectors of society are called upon to promote environmental protection and conservation, especially with the onslaught of climate change.

“The business sector, being a major actor in the development of the community, has a crucial role in ensuring environmental sustainability,” this was further emphasized.

Responding to the call for sustainability, the City of Cebu passed Ordinance No. 2243 covered by Resolution No. 10-2814. In Archival’s presentation, it was learned that the said ordinance was passed on June 23, 2010. Such requires all persons doing or operating business within the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu City to submit an Environmental Sustainability Action Plan or ESAP upon securing or renewing business and/or mayor’s permit.

Activities for land/soil conservation may include, but not limited to, tree-growing activities, use of organic fertilizer, and vegetable-growing program; anti-smoking and emission tests in line with air conservation; gray water treatment, rainwater catchment, urban river/coastal cleanup, composting, recycling and or plastic-use regulation relative to water conservation; and other pertinent programs on waste management. Another welcome concept is upcycling or the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value.

The city government, with the assistance of Kaabag sa Sugbo and other local partners, also crafted a guidebook to help businesses in developing and complying with the ESAP. But while the said ordinance and other policy frameworks have been laid out, compliance and enforcement of environmental laws remain as major challenges.

Compliance with the ESAP, as outlined in the Sustainability Ordinance (the first ordinance of its kind in the country), is to be imposed yet in 2013. However, the business sector is now imploring “not to make life difficult” for them.

According to Ma. Nida Cabrera, chairman of the city commission on environment, the ESAP Guidebook works to complement framework on sustainability emphasizing on prosperity among people in a healthy, livable planet.

Castro mentioned this in her presentation: For a continuously pulsating planet, there has to be upland forests, lowland agriculture, as well as coastal and marine stewardship. For prosperity to be equally enjoyed, there has to be the cohesiveness of micro, small, medium, large and community economy to benefit locales including the indigenous, migrant-transient, the vulnerable and marginalized. There has to be an interface of environment, economy, and equity. 

Reactions

The forum also provided a venue for participants to interact with the speakers. They given the opportunity to raise points of objection, questions, and clarifications. Since the forum was a venue to express personal and institutional ideas, and interest or position on various development issues, all sides of an issue were given the opportunity to convey their case.

Allan Denampo, internal vice president of the Pollution Control Association, challenged the city to take a firm stand when it comes to sale of incandescent bulbs. “If gusto gyod ta nga tanan mo-adhere to use of energy-efficient lights, then we should ban sale of incandescent bulbs here,” he said.

“If we continue to sell bulbs at P30 and some energy-saving lights at P200, natural ang barato maoy unang mahalin. But if we ban totally the sale of bulbs, then we can promote compact fluorescent lights and from there teach the public to advocate wise use of electricity,” he stressed.

As for Association of Barangay Councils president Michael Ralota, he expressed that the city should be the first to observe ESAP. “Serve as role model then. We at the barangays can certainly do it, but the city has to have its ESAP first. Then, it would be easier for establishments to comply as they follow suit,” he pointed out.

Meanwhile, Perry Fajardo, executive director of the Cebu Business Club, said that bureaucracy would take its toll on the implementation and monitoring of ESAP. “Take note that it’s not just a single piece of paper. Kinsa may mobasa ana tanang applications? Ang tendency ana is binayranay lang gihapon to expedite facilitating of business permit renewal,” he expressed.

To this concern, Councilor Cabrera admitted that “with 2012’s P1.8-billion budget, walay para sa CCENRO (tasked to monitor the ESAP). Interim lang gihapon. Lami na gyod iyaka (fancied dropping on the floor as a gesture of frustration).”

As for forest land management, it was also learned that barangays have committed to providing a total of 1,000 hectares to be managed by the city for tree nurturing. This was underlined because more than tree planting, the current challenge is to bring the saplings to maturity.

The Sustainability Ordinance also commits to the creation of bike lanes, establishment of mass transport system, more parks, mini-forest and open spaces, granting incentives to stakeholders including barangays committed to energy-efficient buildings and transportation.

However, there is always the threat of prioritizing flyovers over bike lanes in here. And what about Colon, for example, that serves as haven to sidewalk vending over pedestrianization?

We will only come to love what we understand. We will only understand what we’re taught of. If all options fail, then the teacher has not taught well!