Montevista, Davao de Oro – November 15, 2024 — Local government officials, engineers, scientists, and climate justice advocates gathered at Jorge Town, Montevista today for “A Forum for a Practical Comprehensive Waste Management System for Philippine Local Government Units.” The day-long event, organized by the Confederation of Circular Economy Club of the Philippines (CEC Philippines), aimed to equip local governments with sustainable and science-based approaches to waste management.
The event opened with remarks from Montevista Mayor Manuel E. Zamora, who emphasized the pressing need for LGUs to adopt effective and inclusive waste solutions in the face of mounting environmental challenges. This was followed by a conference rationale presented by Ms. Jennylyn G. Matabang, Lead Convenor of CEC Philippines, who outlined the objectives of the forum and its relevance to local governance and climate action.
Dr. Anthony C. Sales, PET, CESO III, Regional Director of the Department of Science and Technology XI, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the importance of evidence-based policymaking in waste management. “We cannot afford to delay innovation,” Dr. Sales stressed, “as waste is no longer just a sanitation issue but a matter of environmental justice.”
One of the forum’s highlights was a presentation on “Climate Justice in the Context of Philippine Law” by Atty. Martsu Ressan M. Ladia, Chief Climate Justice Officer of CEC Philippines. He discussed the legal foundations and ethical imperatives for LGUs to implement ecologically sound waste programs, framing it as both a constitutional mandate and a moral duty.
The mid-morning session featured a dynamic roundtable titled “BEAT4F (Bioenergy and Agritechnology for Food, Fuel, Fertilizer, and Feed)” with insights from Engr. Reyman M. Zamora (President, Leadtech), Engr. Filmann T. Simpao (USEP), and Dr. Randell U. Espina (Ateneo de Davao University). Together, they explored integrated agritech innovations that marry food security with renewable energy solutions.
After lunch, Dr. Emmie C. Panganiban of CEC Philippines presented an economic analysis of clustered resource recovery systems, showing their potential for scalability and cost-effectiveness across barangays and municipalities.
The final plenary featured Dr. Nervy Santiago, Executive Vice President of Alterna Verde Corporation, who proposed a practical approach to recovery carbon capture—turning waste into energy while significantly reducing the carbon footprint of LGUs.
The forum concluded with closing remarks from Ms. Evelyn B. Tolentino, another Lead Convenor of CEC Philippines, who challenged attendees to “bring home the science and spirit of today’s discussions and turn them into programs that matter.” Moderated by Ms. Jen Bangoy, the forum served not only as a venue for knowledge-sharing but also as a starting point for a new wave of LGU-led innovations toward a circular economy.