NGO organizes climate change forum in schools

CEBU, Philippines - In its hope to urge more youth to take part in protecting the environment, a non-government organization has brought a climate action forum to schools in Cebu.

Sugboanong Nagpakabana sa Kalikupan (SNK) recently organized a climate action forum at the University of Southern Philippines Foundation.

"We are doing this to promote knowledge among the youth on the importance of climate action," said former Cebu City councilor, and one of the convenors of SNK, Alvin Dizon.

The climate action forum tackled various environmental topics, such as solid waste management and effective mass transport system. These were discussed by San Francisco, Camotes Island Vice Mayor Alfredo Arquillano, and Bus Rapid Transit project management office head Rafael Yap, respectively.

Teody Navea of Sanlakas Cebu also discussed on renewable energy.

Arquillano said the challenge in solid waste management in his municipality is on how to "mobilize the citizens to act as one."

"Gisugdan to og organize og one community. Mao g'yud to among gibuhat didto. Usa lang ka community, among gi-organize, deliver basic services to build trust. Unya gi-program ang project to create relationship," Arquillano said.

He said 60 percent of garbage in their municipality cannot be brought to the landfill so they have to find ways to decompose the garbage to be used for planting or other means.

Arquillano also takes pride in the pavers they created out of shredded cellophane.

For Cebu City, Dizon said 700 to eight 800 tons of garbage is being dumped at the Inayawan Landfill, and the government spends P240 million to dispose garbage at the Consolacion Landfill per year.

There are various proposals to convert Inayawan Lanfill into an energy facility, Dizon said. This is to turn garbage into energy.

As for the effect of vehicles on climate change, Yap said they have to work double time since there is a 10 percent increase in the purchase of cars and motorcycles this year compared to last year.

He said this links to climate change because of the large gas emissions of vehicles, which also contributes to respiratory diseases.

"The increase in the number of private vehicles on the road is actually contributing to our productivity loss, ang atong health, ang atong loss of time," Yap said.

With the BRT, he said the use of public vehicles would decrease because more people can be accommodated in one vehicle that would only stop from station to station.

As for Navea, he said they are currently pushing for an anti-coal energy signature campaign with the Philippine Movement for Climate Justice (PMCJ) because the operation of more coal-powered plants in the country is being granted.

After the forum for USP students, Dizon said they are hoping to organize one at the University of San Carlos, University of San Jose-Recoletos, St. Theresa's College, and Cebu Doctor's University. Two weeks ago, the same forum was also done at Southwestern University. —Vania Mae B. Lim   (FREEMAN)