Environmental plans for barangays pushed

CEBU, Philippines - Association of Barangay Councils President Michael Ralota yesterday urged the barangays to draft and adopt their own Environmental Sustainability Action Plan and be a model to the business sector.

In a forum sponsored by The Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (EADSC) he presented a sustainability framework anchored on Cebu City Ordinance No. 2243 also called The Sustainable Ordinance.

Ralota, who sits as ex-officio in the city council, said the ordinance requires business firms in Cebu City to submit an Environmental Sustainability Action Plan upon securing or renewing their business permit.

“Lain kaayo kita mopatuman unya kita mismo wala nagbuhat,” Ralota said, adding that in Barangay T. Padilla they planted malunggay and alugbati vegetables and sweet potatoes to augment their food needs. Ralota also suggested the use of native baskets which is more environmentally-friendly and to avoid the use of plastics which is not good for the environment.

The forum dubbed as “Prosperity and Planet: Engaging Business as Stewards towards Sustainable Cebu” were spearheaded by the Cebu City Government and the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. in partnership with Kaabag sa Sugbo, gathered together local entrepreneurs and business leaders, government offices, civil society groups and other stakeholders.

Under the Sustainable Ordinance, the Barangay Environment Officers are tasked to monitor and inspect business establishments operating under their area whether or not they are following the provisions of the ordinance.

The forum also tackled the impact of the said ordinance in solving the problem of climate change and the ways and strategies that can be used to promote environmental protection and conservation towards sustainable development.

City Councilor Nida Cabrera, chairwoman of the council committee on the environment, said the desire of the city government is to make Cebu a sustainable place for living and to maintain a good relationship between the business sector and the leaders in the city down to the barangay level.

“This is why such an ordinance is passed which will be implemented in the next two years. We believe that the existence of this ordinance or this sustainability action plan will provide the venue for the barangays to create connection and good partnership with the business sectors,” Cabrera said. — (FREEMAN)