San Fran highlighted in int’l environment meet

CEBU, Philippines - The success of San Francisco town in the implementation of environmental programs was again highlighted during an international forum that tackled environmental issues in the Southeast Asia.

The three-day conference dubbed as “Environment Law Talks II on Forest Management and Mining Laws in Southeast Asia” at the Capitol Social Hall, which started last Wednesday, focused on forest management and mining laws.

It also discussed ASEAN Cultural Heritage-Protected Areas in the Philippines, challenges and lessons in the implementation of environmental law in forests and mining communities and in strengthening community participation in decision-making, fair, participatory and effective ecosystem management.

Former mayor Alfredo Arquillano, Jr. of San Francisco in Camotes Island shared how they utilized the purok system to   as a key strategy in reducing disaster risk and adapting to climate change.

Arquillano implemented the system in 2004, during his second term as mayor of the town.

He said in order to develop a strategy to educate the people on the value of volunteerism and nationalism, there should be proper information dissemination.

“It’s all about educating the people. Due to the regular meetings in the community, we can disseminate the information. The system is an avenue for leaders because the community is organized. We let them understand that they also have the responsibility to protect and enhance the environment,” Arquillano said.

He added that people’s empowerment is an essential element in achieving the main objective of participatory governance.

Constituents should be actively involved in the community, especially in the implementation of the programs.

“If the community is empowered, there’s a chance that the program can be sustained. There is a need to ensure that the next leader is in line with the vision of the municipality. Although in cases of new leadership especially when the leader comes from a different political party, if the community is involved, the new leadership will support the system and it can be sustained,” he added.

The SanFran Purok System is a micro structure of the barangay unit bringing effective governance at the sub-village level, a one-of-a-kind innovation only seen in San Francisco.

They do not practice giving dole outs and they were able to sustain the system through their Purok Capital Build Up program where the community deposits an amount agreed on by residents as initial capital for emergency purposes and this will be used as  post-disaster assistance fund.

The Bayanihan or the community cooperation is the backbone of the purok system, he said.

Arquillano also implemented a system of solid waste management that contributes to better sanitation and drainage, which considerably reduces the risk of floods caused by clogged waterways.

It is now known as a national best practice example and is also being shared with cities in other nations, such as Bangladesh.

Under Arquillano’s leadership, San Francisco won the UN Sasakawa Award for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2011 for its community empowerment program to boost the resilience of a mostly poor population living below the poverty line.

Arquillano, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) Asia Regional Champion, encouraged the four barangay captains to reduce the risk and increase resilience in order to achieve a sustainable development.

Meanwhile, Rule of Law Programme Asia Director Marc Spitzkatz told the forum participants that there should be “legal dissemination of the rule of laws to protect our environment-our natural resources.”

Spitzkats said that in order to aid the crucial issues on environment and to end the battle on environmental problems, it is essential to put a weight on the rule of law to address legal and environmental issues.

Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale said that one of the most prevailing social problems of the century is the continuing degeneration of the environment.

This has been considered as a perennial problem all over the world, which threatens the ecosystem of nature and as well human life.

Magpale wished that the knowledge the participants learn from the forum will be translated into concrete actions that will be effective enough to help bring back the beauty, the wealth and the glory of forests and mines in the Southeast Asia.  (FREEMAN)