Councilor Dizon gets Ocean Heroes award

CEBU, Philippines — Outgoing Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon was chosen by the Oceana-Philippines as one of the 2022 Ocean Heroes Awardees.

On June 17, international marine conservation organization Oceana presented the award to its 36 ocean conservation partners from the government, academe, fisherfolk groups, and civil society organizations.

According to the group, these partners were instrumental in effecting the needed policy reforms and in realizing victories for the ocean and for the impoverished coastal communities most vulnerable to the impact of climate change.

“It’s truly a huge honor for me to receive this award in recognition of our legislative work on Climate Action in the Cebu City Council,” said Dizon.

The outgoing councilor has authored several local legislations in the city promoting the rights of the marginalized and protection of the environment.

Some of the climate action-related ordinances he authored are the measures creating the Air Quality Monitoring Council in the city; reducing food waste through food donation and recycling; prohibiting food foam container and single-use plastics in all public events; and regulating the use of plastic grocery bags.

He also authored an ordinance prohibiting the improper disposal of used face masks.

Further, he passed a measure creating the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals Monitoring Council of the city and a measure institutionalizing the first week of June every year as Cebu City Environment Week.

Dizon is also one of the co-petitioners of Oceana’s landmark plastic lawsuit against the National Solid Waste Management Commission demanding accountability for the poor implementation of Republic Act 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act).

“Let us come together and remain hopeful as we continue our fight to save our ocean and Mother Earth,” he said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier issued Memorandum Circular 2022-018, which emphasizes?the responsibilities of local government units (LGUs) in ensuring that all environmentally critical projects comply with environmental safeguards, in accordance with the Philippine Environmental Statement System and related laws and regulations.

Along with Dizon, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año, Undersecretary for Local Government Marlo Iringan, Undersecretary for Peace and Order Bernardo Florece, Jr., and Dr. Wilfredo Campos of the University of the Philippine Visayas Foundation were also among the Ocean Heroes Awardees.

Launched in 2016, the Ocean Heroes Awards is rooted in the partnership among Oceana, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), and the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) aimed at recognizing the significant contributions towards the sustainable management of the country’s marine resources. — GMR (FREEMAN)