Shom Teoh, program manager of the ASEAN Sustainable Cities and Eco-Schools Program of the non-profit International Global Environmental Strategies based in Japan is amazed with the cleanliness of Davao City. Teoh is among the speakers for the 3-day National Forum on Eco-Schools and Eco-Cities held in Davao City. (Zea Io Ming C. Capistrano/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY — A foreign delegate to the national environmental forum for environmental-friendly and sustainable schools and cities here is impressed with the city’s cleanliness.
“I have been to many model cities and big cities in Davao, I think Davao is very clean, really, I’m very impressed. I was looking all the way from the airport to the hotel, it’s very clean,” said Shom Teoh, program manager of the ASEAN Sustainable Cities and Eco-Schools Program of the non-profit International Global Environmental Strategies based in Japan.
“I think we can really see, it’s not just talk, but we can really see that it’s a model city in the Philippines and ASEAN,” she said.
Teoh’s group works closely with the ASEAN secretariat and ASEAN member states with support from the government of Japan.
“We have been working with regional network of top green cities in asean and we decided that environmental education, mobilizing a new generation of leaders who are more conscious and responsible about all aspects of development,” said Teoh.
Davao City was the first city in the country to host the three-day National Forum for Eco-Schools and Eco-Cities: Overcoming Challenges and Upscaling Opportunities which started on Wednesday August 31 until September 2.
Among the city’s environmentally-sustainable initiatives are the anti-smoking ordinance, firecracker ban ordinance, anti-smoke belching ordinance, ordinance banning aerial spray, ecological solid waste manangement ordinance, and the septage and sewerage management program.
4 Davao eco-schools
Elenida Basug, chief of the Environmental Education and Information Division of the Environmental Management Bureau said four schools in Davao city has also been recognized as national and regional champions in the previous years’ search for sustainable and eco-friendly schools namely Ateneo de Davao High School, Davao Doctors College, Daniel R. Aguinaldo National High School, and Doña Asuncion Elementary School.
Basug said the forum seeks to encourage more cities and schools to be eco-friendly.
“This forum is pushing for the active marrying of two joint objectives for pursuing environmental sustainable cities and pushing for more eco-friendly schools. More sustainable cities and schools is what we’re pushing for,” she said.
Basug also announced that the 2017 national search for sustainable and eco-friendly schools is now accepting entries from elementary, high school, and tertiary levels.
Among the criteria of determining the level of the sustainability of schools are:
- Clear articulation and integration of social, ethical and environmental responsibility in the institution’s vision, mission, and governance;
- Environmental dimensions of school operations;
- Environment-related features f the school curriculum;
- Presence of vibrant eco organizations in campus
- Presence of environmental partners and linkages in various programs and activities;
- Socio-cultural sustainability; and
- Economic sustainability.
The deadline for submission of school entries is on April 28, 2017. (davaotoday.com)
