BAGUIO CITY – The city council approved on final reading last Monday Ordinance No. 43 series of 2017 authored by Councilor Elaine Sembrano institutionalizing the first of June each year as Baguio City Environment Week.
The ordinance aims to come up with a regular and city government-sponsored and sanctioned activity as an avenue for the promotion and information drive of the various city government’s policies, programs and projects on health and sanitation, waste management and environmental protection including private sector initiatives on these matters of public concern, according to Sembrano.
It will also integrate the programs to the city’s Solid Waste Management plan and strategies of component barangays under the City Ecological Solid Waste Management Board pursuant to Section 186 of Ordinance Numbered 18, Series of 2016 or the Environment Code of the City of Baguio.
Under the ordinance, a committee headed by Mayor Mauricio Domogan and city general services officer Romeo Concio will be created to implement the activities in coordination with the city social welfare and development office, the city council, the Liga ng mga Barangay, Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources, Dept. of Science and Technology, Dept. of Trade and Industry, the academe, non-government organizations and the association recyclers.
The committee will formulate the program of activities for the five-day celebration in coordination with the City Ecological Solid Waste Management Board and the requirements and guidelines for public participation, criteria for the search for the Most Innovative Indigenous/ Locally Developed Waste Management Practice/Technology and Model Recycler and the Most Environmental Friendly Barangay, Institution or Commercial Establishment.
The committee will also be tasked to come up with an inventory of environmental protection policies, programs and projects of the City Government including social and economic activities derived therefrom and to link with the private sector such as the academe, entrepreneurs, environmental advocates and other stake holders with interest on health and sanitation, waste management and environmental protection for the furtherance of this Ordinance.
It will also recommend to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, or to the Ecological Solid Waste Management Board, City Water Governance Council, the Clean Air Monitoring Committee, the City Mining Regulatory Board, the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council and similar bodies created by the city government, measures for the enhancement of policies, programs and projects as gathered from the conducted public fora.
The recommended activities include public forum/symposium on the government’s policies, programs and projects on health and sanitation, waste management and environmental protection including private sector initiatives on these matters of public concerns; exposition of recycled products; technologies and best practices on waste management, environmental protection, conservation and regeneration; search for the Most Innovative Indigenous/Locally Developed Waste Management Practice/Technology; Model Recycler and the Most Environmental Friendly Barangay, Institution or Commercial Establishment; and other similar activities that can elicit public interest and participation.
The winners of the search will be awarded a Citation/Certificate of Recognition by the City Environment Week Committee and will be recommended for the Baguio Green Star Award pursuant to Ordinance Numbered 18 series of 2016.
A P100,000 appropriation will be set aside for the activities. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
