The city government has laid out its plans to implement its three priority circular economy of “Pansa-nopen Tayo” programs covering the barangay, tourism and education sectors.
In the work plans submitted to the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) which is co-leading the Green LGUs project of the European Union-Green Economy Programme in the Philippines (EU-GEPP), Mayor Benjamin Magalong said the plans spelled out the key activities and milestones, timelines and other indicators for the city’s chosen priority circular economy portfolios namely the Bida Barangay for Circularity; CE 101: Teaching CE in Baguio Schools and Universities (Green Education); and the Breathe Baguio Brand: Circular Tourism-Based Enterprises (Green Tourism).
He expressed hopes that the proposed activities and components in each CE portfolio will gain support from the European Union-Green Economy Programme in the Philippines (EU-GEPP) through the United Nations Development Programme and the DILG which included Baguio as one of the 20 local government unit recipients of the Green LGUs Project.
Dr. Marjorie Balay-as, Local Government Unit and Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said the work plans impressed the UNDP for “integrating a socially and culturally just and restorative process of the shift from linear to circular economy.”
She said the Bida Barangay for Circularity portfolio “empowers the barangays champions of circular economy” through programs like the establishment and enhancement of materials recovery systems (MRS) and enhancing plastics and organics circularity.
The CE 101: Teaching CE in Baguio Schools and Universities (Green Education) portfolio was described as focusing on working with the education sector to accelerate behavioral change in the shift to a circular economy.
“It seeks to integrate the circular economy in indigenous people education programs and mainstream it in school and university curriculum. It also highlights indigenization of circular economy modules for contextual application to ensure that these are applicable in the city,” Balay-as said.
The Circular Tourism-Based Enterprises (Green Tourism) portfolio aims for achieving sustainable tourism and focuses on effecting behavioral change.
“It aims to raise the awareness of tourists on the circular economy and hopefully generate appropriate action. It also involves designing products related to tourism that could promote circular economy as well as promoting supply-totable chain partnership that will promote Baguio products,” Balay-as said. ** Aileen P. Refuerzo
