Cebu City renews MOA for clean environment

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City government and the Cebu Academe Network (CAN) renewed its memorandum of agreement during the 7th River Summit 2018 yesterday.

This summit started in 2010 and is celebrated every year with the participation of schools under CAN.

Under the MOA, the city government, through its instrumentalities, namely the Solid Waste Management Board (SWMB), Cebu City Rivers Management Council (CCRMC), Coastal Management Board (CMB), Parks and Playgrounds Commission and the City Mining Regulatory Board (CMRB) aims to achieve an effective and efficient program to establish a clean and better environment for Cebu City residents.

While recognizing the role of the academe, CAN envisions itself to be a network of academic leaders committed to educating individuals to become responsible environmental stewards.

CAN is a network of schools in Cebu island that is bound together in the pursuit of advocacies that promote the sustainability of the environment.

CAN intends to provide the community with values formation that prepares them to meet the demands and challenges of solving environmental problems.

As a network of academic institutions, CAN commits to advocate for the care of the environment through varied activities, utilize research outputs from academic institutions in Cebu for the conservation of the environment, work with community groups, non-government organizations and local governments in pursuing the causes for the environment; and showcase various environmental practices and initiatives from different stakeholders.

These schools include the Cebu Doctor's University, Cebu Normal University, Cebu Institute of Technology-University, Cebu Technological University, Mandaue City College, Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine Inc., Saint Theresa's College, University of the Philippines-Cebu College, University of Cebu, University of San Jose-Recoletos, University of San Carlos, Velez College and the University of the Philippines Foundation.

Mandaue City Vice Mayor Carlo Pontico Fortuna, during yesterday's River Summit 2018, talked about the upcoming 4th International River Summit on November 22 to 24 in Cebu.

He also emphasized the importance of rivers and river basins, as he also gave updates of the city's Butuanon River.

Ten international speakers are expected to share their views during summit.

Former Cebu City Councilor Nestor Archival also talked about how city residents can be responsible citizens.

The River Summit 2018 is organized by CAN and hosted by STC in cooperation with the Cebu City Government. —/GAN (FREEMAN)