Permaculture summit highlights food security, waste management

CEBU, Philippines — Aiming to mainstream permaculture education as a practical and scalable approach to transforming food systems, the Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI), a global women’s organization, hosted the 1st Permaculture Education Summit at the Cebu Institute of Technology–University (CIT-U) on Saturday, January 24.

The summit highlighted permaculture, a portmanteau for “permanent agriculture”, as a regenerative and sustainable approach that helps restore soil and water systems affected by degradation, pollution, and erosion.

Merly Barlaan, director of the WFWPI UN Relations Offices, said permaculture initiatives have long been introduced by various environmental groups worldwide but have largely lacked institutional support from governments.

The event was held in line with United Nations General Assembly Resolution 76/300, which upholds the human right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment.

Local and international leaders, educators, and students attended the gathering, united by a shared commitment to fostering more sustainable and resilient communities.

Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival, who also graced the event, said he was pleased with how the city is advancing practical initiatives on critical issues such as food security, water conservation, and solid waste management.

“These conversations are important because they allow us to learn from one another and strengthen partnerships that turn ideas into real solutions for our communities,” Archival said in a social media post.

One of the keynote speakers, Joel Lee, a Cebu-based permaculture expert and practitioner, discussed the realities and positive impact of permaculture at the community level.

Lee, who is also the founding co-convenor and executive director of Movement for a Livable Cebu, also spoke about the recent Binaliw landfill landslide that claimed 36 lives earlier on January 8.

In a statement released by the organization following the incident, Lee described the trash slide as a “tragedy of our common making.”

“Kita tanan responsable anang nahitabo sa Binaliw. Sayon ra kaayo ipamasol og mga tao, (but) of course, there are people who are liable kay naa may namatay kay naay naguba. Pero kitang tanan part ta sa problema,” Lee told The Freeman in an interview.

The organization further urged the community to recognize that “respect for nature is a prime imperative,” stressing that the consequences of collective environmental neglect can no longer be avoided.

“It is time to get our act together to solve our common problem in Cebu… As garbage-contributing citizens, we are part of the problem, and hence, we have to take our part in the solution,” the statement read.

Lee also suggested practical ways permaculture could be applied at the community level and how it might have helped prevent the incident.

He emphasized the need to segregate plastic waste from “malata” or biodegradable materials, adding that biodegradable waste should be collected separately by a different company.

For “di-malata” or non-biodegradable waste such as plastics, Lee recommended sustainable recycling practices to retain their residual value.

Meanwhile, CIT-U Supreme Student Government Vice President John Mark Pahulaya shared how permaculture can be relevant and beneficial to students.

He described the summit as a “good eye-opener,” particularly for students like him who often rely on processed food while living in dormitories or boarding houses away from their hometowns or provinces.

As a student leader, Pahulaya said the discussions provided insights for potential projects and initiatives that could benefit the entire student body.

“Nice jud ang permaculture because it’s a discipline man gud towards responsible stewardship. So, as we grow and as we plant our seeds, we are planting our future,” he said in a separate interview.

Pahulaya also noted that student-led organizations at CIT-U have already undertaken permaculture-related initiatives, such as mangrove planting activities in rural areas outside the city.

Other keynote speakers included Department of Economy, Planning, and Development-7 Regional Director Jennifer Bretaña and permaculture expert and engineer Roberto Bajenting.

Also in attendance were guests from the Kingdom of Spain, including Senator Maria Arenales Serrano Arguello and retired Senator Maria del Carmen Quintanilla Barba.

The summit also served as a localization effort for Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on Health and Well-being, SDG 4 on Quality Education, and SDG 13 on Climate Action. (CEBU NEWS