...the PH zero-waste city

Ten zero-waste cities: How Taguig in the Philippines became clean

By Sonia Henam, Swati Singh Sambyal

downtoearth.org

Last Updated: Wednesday 13 November 2019

Can we imagine a city in India without waste? Arguably, no. Rather our cities are drowning in their own wastes.

It is a big challenge now to collect, segregate and manage our waste in cities and towns. But there are cities across the world, including in India that have become completely waste-free.

They did so by adopting the ‘zero waste model’. This model is all about significantly reducing waste, eventually completely eliminating it.

Most of what we now waste can be safely and economically recycled, reused, composted, or turned into biogas through anaerobic digestion. It also creates a large number of well-paying jobs. Informal waste collectors are brought into the net and provided with decent earnings and dignity.

This is a unique model of solid waste management — frugal and generating wealth from waste. And it is successfully being implemented.

Down To Earth has curated a list of 10 cities across India and the world which are now ‘zero-waste’.

Taguig’s fight to be clean

The first among them is Taguig in the Philippines, which became clean mainly by segregating waste at source and diverting it. 

A few years back, the city, a barangay or community of metropolitan Manila, was known for its dumpsite, a vacant plot, where heaps of mixed waste from its households as well as those in its affluent neighbours landed.

Perhaps the best example of how Taguig’s transformation took place is one of its own barangays, Fort Bonifacio. The youngest barangay in Taguig, Fort Bonifacio had a population of about 11,739 according to the 2015 Census. It produces about 0.32 kilogram per capita per day of waste.

In 2009, Fort Bonifacio officials were facing challenges on managing its waste. They had limited resources and no clue from where to start the process of managing waste.

In order to address the increasing issue of solid waste, the city officials approached Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), a Filipino non-profit, for assistance.

In 2011, under the guidance of MEF, Fort Bonifacio officials visited barangays with the best RA 9003 (a legislation in the Philippines on SWM) practices such as Barangay Bagumbuhay in Quezon City; Teresa in Rizal; and Puerto Prinsesa in Palawan.

They then proceeded with a self-assessment and baseline survey, visiting each of Fort Bonifacio’s eight zones to scope out problem areas where waste accumulated.

The MEF trained barangay officials and project staff on waste analysis and characterisation study (WACS) and ecological solid waste management (ESWM). It followed this by conducting an intensive information education communication (IEC) campaign and finally setting up a materials recovery facility (MRF).

MEF and Fort Bonifacio formally launched ESWM in 2012 and the barangay passed an ordinance in full compliance with the national law on ESWM.

This ordinance formally established the barangay ecological solid waste management programme, mandating correct segregation, collection, recycling, and disposal, as well as an MRF site for the barangay. In 2014, the ordinances were updated to respond to new developments. This further helped the work on ground.

According to the WACS, organic waste comprised 40 per cent of the total waste in Fort Bonifacio, representing the amount that could easily be composted and converted into fertiliser, and thus diverted from the landfill. This showed that there was a value in waste, if segregated.

“Eighty per cent of the waste collected is diverted at the MRF and has 95 per cent household compliance rate,” Sonia Mendoza, chairman of MEF, said.

 Waste Composition in Brgy. Fort Bonifacio (2012)

“During the pilot, 15 informal waste pickers were trained and absorbed as official waste collectors of the barangay. Now, the waste pickers earn about PHP 8,000 (US$ 186) as compared to PHP 3,000 (US$ 70),” she added.

Mendoza said this also reduced the number of city trucks collecting waste from the barangay, from the daily average of four trips per day, down to only one trip per day, resulting in savings of around P10, 000 (US $195) per day for the city.

According to the GAIA report on Taguig city, waste diversion serves as an indicator for both income — as recyclables are sold — and project success.

The project resulted in more efficient use of Taguig’s budget, saving PHP 800 (US$ 15) per cubic feet.

As the number of dump trucks dropped from four in 2012 to one per day in 2013, just a year after the project began, hauling expenses were similarly slashed by three-fourths, from PHP 7.3 million (US$ 141,200), to PHP 1.825 million (US$ 35,300) per year.

Today, 95 per cent of Taguig’s households segregate their waste before it is collected. The city is now clean and free of litter, and has shown remarkable progress in the fight against waste.

It was recognised as the ‘cleanest barangay in metro Manila’ in terms of solid waste management (SWM) in 2015.

...the Pinay farmer turned UN Nutrition Ambassador

This Pinay farmer Is Now A UN Nutrition 

Ambassador

Cheeky Albay
Cosmopolitan Philippines
03 November 2019

We first featured Cherrie D. Atilano earlier this year for her mission of “Making Farming Sexy”—encouraging young Filipinos, women especially, to go into farming like she has. But it wasn’t just that catchy slogan that got us hooked.

Cherrie’s inspiring story makes her life peg material: She grew up working on a sugarcane farm in Negros Occidental, graduated magna cum laude with a degree in agriculture from the Visayas State University, gave up a Fulbright scholarship in the US so she could stay in the Philippines and help local farmers, and founded AGREA, an award-winning Marinduque-based social enterprise which aims to help eradicate poverty for farming and fishing families, alleviate the effects of climate change, and help establish food security in the Philippines.

Impressed yet? There’s more. The 33-year-old Pinay has just been appointed by United Nations (UN) Secretary-General António Guterres as a Lead Group member of the UN’s Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement, the goal of which is to ensure a world free from malnutrition by 2030.

As a SUN Lead Group member - one of only 27 from around the world and only Southeast Asian on the list! - Cherrie is now a high-level ambassador for the UN , a role she will hold until 2021.

Below, Cherrie tells us how her trip to the UN Headquarters in New York went, how she'll serve as a newly-minted UN Nutrition ambassador, and how YOU can make your own mark like she has.

What she’s been up to since her last Cosmo interview:

"We launched AGREA programs in Siargao—both More Love for Women Farmers, which makes the island the first women-led agriculture island in the Philippines; and The Garden Classroom Program for public elementary schools, which will allow pupils to learn how to grow their own food, harvest organic vegetables for their feeding program, and love nature at the same time. We will be replicating the AGREA Farm School and Farm Business in the island by next year. 

I grew much wisdom, I must say. So many beautiful things have happened and most of them had me overcoming challenges and waking up every morning with so much hope."

How she and AGREA got the attention of the UN:

"AGREA received the UN Global Compact Agriculture Business Excellence Award in 2017. I also met some people in the UN when I spoke at the World Economic Forum’s New Vision for Agriculture event in Switzerland in 2014. I’ve also been invited several times to UN events in New York and Rome, and also to sustainability conferences around the world.

However, the main reason they chose me is my 21-year advocacy in agriculture, one I’ve had since I was young. As the SUN secretariat said to me, my movement of “Making Farming Sexy” should reach every corner of the world.

I also embody what it’s like to be a female leader in a male-dominated industry, I’m young, and I’m from the ASEAN, which has been called the next frontier."

About the SUN Movement:

"The principle of the SUN Movement is that everyone has the right to food and nutrition, and these two should go hand in hand. The movement addresses the problem of 149 million children who are suffering from malnutrition—which has devastating consequences for health, learning, future earning potential, economic development, resilience, and security. The mission is to work towards a world
free from malnutrition, in all forms, by 2030, nourishing people and planet together."

Her responsibilities as a SUN Movement Lead Group member:

"I support the 60 member countries and five Indian States as they pursue their goals to scale up nutrition. I will also provide strategic oversight on the movement, encouraging coherence and collective accountability for results. With this, I can influence in strengthening both policy and action in terms of solving malnutrition across the globe, while focusing and giving emphasis on our policy and efforts here in the Philippines and the ASEAN region."

What she’s excited to contribute to the SUN Movement:

"I made my commitment to secure nutrition by securing food sufficiency and security. I always make farming sexy by mentoring a lot of young people to venture into agriculture, empower women in agriculture to make sure proper nutrition starts from home, work on multi-stakeholder partnerships in making sure nutrition will be a serious business to lower stunted growth and boost our human capital productivity, and invest in impactful agri-foods."

How it feels to be one of 27 global leaders in the SUN Movement:

"It’s humbling. At the same time, I am so grateful for the privilege to be among them as they are amazing leaders whom I look up to. They created bold changes in their sphere of influence and inspired the world by their great accomplishments. They bring a wealth of experiences that I can learn from, and I am so fortunate to have that network of people I can collaborate with to expand my advocacy and work in the future. It is so good to brainstorm in a room full of intellectuals who are humble enough to solicit your ideas and open-minded enough to collaborate."

How her time at the UN Headquarters in New York went:

"It was the experience of a lifetime. For me, it was not about the special treatment, which was a bonus, but more of recognizing the fact that you are with a group of people who are so hardworking and passionate about creating positive changes in the world. New York during the UN General Assembly was a bustle of brains, hearts, and hands working together to make the world a better place to live in. You come out exhausted from all the events, but with a heart full of inspiration and a lot of concrete steps for taking action."

What she wishes more young Filipinos knew about nutrition and agriculture:

"Every day, 95 children in the Philippines die from malnutrition. 27 out of 1,000 Filipino children do not get past their fifth birthday. A third of Filipino children are stunted, or short for their age. Stunting after two years of age can be permanent, irreversible, and even fatal, according to UNICEF.

Additionally, the right food is not easily accessible, especially to our poor fellow men. We have 12 million hectares of underproductive lands, farmers are getting old, there is a declining interest among young people to go into agriculture, and our population is exponentially growing.

With all these, I think we have enough reasons to knock on the hearts of our young Filipinos and encourage them to help in boosting our agriculture sector. It will greatly help in establishing food sufficiency and security in the country, which could help in solving our malnutrition problem."

Her advice for other women who want to make a mark in their advocacies:

"Focus! I have been in this advocacy for 21 years, never disturbed by all other great opportunities. I was lucky to find my passion and purpose in agriculture.

Practice excellence and be authentic in what you choose to advocate. Immerse yourself in the community and have the humility to realize that at the end of the day, we are not superheroes who can solve all their problems; we are mere facilitators who can open opportunities for them or guide them in unleashing their potential so they can be the solutions to their own problems.

And at the end of every good job, the sweetest thing to do is pamper yourself. Self-love is a necessity."

...the best Islands of your life

11 Philippine Islands on your Bucket List


Katie Lockhart 
Fodors.com
10 September 2019

So many islands, so little time.

It would take two lifetimes to explore all the glory that is the Philippines’ 7,641 islands. For visitors, deciding which ones to visit can be a daunting and overwhelming task. From the lush green hills of the north to the tropical surfing beaches of the south, these are Philippines’ must-visit islands.

1 OF 11

Coron Island

A short boat ride from Coron town to Coron Island gets you to the most iconic and spectacular shot of the Philippines. Once you climb the stairs to Kayangan Lake View Point and catch your breath, you’ll see colossal limestone rocks jutting out of a turquoise green bay. After you’ve got the perfect photos, walk down the stairs in the opposite direction to Kayangan Lake, one of the clearest lakes in the world. Here you can swim and snorkel amongst the colorful fish and coral. This area gets extremely busy so ask your local tour operator or hotel staff what the best time to visit is.

2 OF 11

Palawan

This long, skinny island is the country’s largest province and includes Coron. You could spend your entire trip on the island of Palawan and not see half of its natural beauty. One of the most popular and incredible attractions is the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, part of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Here you can float deep into an underground cave to see bats and stalagmites. Then, head north to El Nido and join El Nido Yachting Club for a luxury tour of the famous crystal clear lagoons and white sand beaches.

3 OF 11

Siargao

This southern island is the Philippines premier surfing destination. A chilled-out vacation destination with luxury accommodation like Bayud Boutique Resort at affordable prices. The best way to explore the island is on a motorbike. So rent a moped and cruise past swaying palm trees and bamboo beach huts to the Magpupungko Rock Pools. An incredible place for photos and a swim at low-tide. After a full day of surf and swim carb up at any one of the island’s awesome Italian restaurants like Kermit or La Carinderia.

4 OF 11

Bohol

A short ferry ride from Cebu City, Bohol is home to some of the Philippines most unique attractions. You’ve probably seen the Chocolate Hills in guidebooks and textbooks over the years. These brown geological formations protruding from the earth for miles and miles in the distance is truly awe-inspiring. In the same day, you can see another incredible aspect of nature–tarsiers. Visit the Philippine Tarsier Sanctuary in Corella to view these tiny, bug-eyed primates in their natural habitat. Visitors must not use flash and must be very quiet; otherwise, these endangered animals may get so overwhelmed they’ll kill themselves.

5 OF 11

Cebu

The large island of Cebu is home to Cebu City, the Philippines first capital. As the country’s oldest city there is a lot to discover. Hire a guide to take you to the Cebu Heritage Monument to learn about the city’s long history and culture. Another cultural aspect of the modern-day Philippines is their malls. Head to SM Mall Cebu to experience shopping like a local. They also have a Jollibee, the country’s most popular fast food chain, where the Chickenjoy is a must-try.

6 OF 11

Siquijor

Known as the Philippines’ most mysterious island, Siquijor is famous for its witchcraft and shamanism. Don’t worry if you’re not into spiritualism; visitors can partake in the beauty of a dozen waterfalls, white sand beaches, and cliffs perfect for jumping. The most famous spot on the island is the idyllic Cambugahay Falls. A short but steep hike takes you to this three-tiered waterfall. If you want to take a turn on the rope swing, be prepared to pay a small fee.

7 OF 11

Luzon

This is the country’s largest island and home to Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. But don’t hang around, escape the congestion of the city and head north to hike Mount Pulag. In order to reach the island’s highest mountain, you have to venture into remote, rural towns like Kabayan where mummies are hidden in caves. If you’re really brave, drive the narrow, winding roads to see incredible vistas and rows of rice terraces that rival Bali in Sagada, Banaue, and Bontoc.

8 OF 11

Panglao

A quick drive over the bridge from Bohol gets you to this resort destination famous for Alona Beach. Sunbathe, swim, and snorkel off its white, sometimes crowded sands or stop for purple ube ice cream at any of its cafes. There are plenty of relaxed hotels to stay at and local massage parlors to frequent. If you’re up for some adventure, take a swim among the stalagmites in the cavernous lagoon of Hinagdanan Cave.

9 OF 11

Mactan

A short cab ride from Cebu City takes you to a small, luxurious island for those looking to relax and enjoy the water. Diving enthusiasts flock to Mactan for its multitude of diving sites, a stunning variety of marine life, and resorts with dedicated facilities. If you’re not certified, there’s always snorkeling, windsurfing, and sailing off its shores. Don’t leave the island without trying the world’s best lechon (roasted pig) at Zubuchon. Located near the airport, it’s the perfect stop to spot before your flight.

10 OF 11

Leyte

Naval buffs will love this historically significant island where Magellan sailed through, MacArthur landed in 1944, and was inhabited by Japanese guerilla soldiers during WWII. Today, historians can visit the MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park and the location where Battle of Leyte ensued. Separated into two provinces, this less-touristy island has some of the country’s best diving spots are on the southern tip in Southern Leyte. Note that the island is still recuperating after Super Typhoon Yolanda destroyed 70 to 80 percent of its structures in 2013.

11 OF 11

Batan Island

Batanes is the northernmost group of islands in the country. The province’s main island, Batan, has green rolling hills dotted with livestock, rugged cliffs, and a lighthouse, making for a completely different landscape compared to the country’s other islands. Rent a car or a motorbike and explore Chawa Cave, a natural salt bed cave thought to be enchanted by spirits. Then head to Naidi Hills, for a postcard-worthy picture of the island’s first lighthouse. Be sure to plan a visit to Maydangeb White Beach where you can walk through a narrow, rocky trail that opens up on the hidden gem that is Huhmurun Blue Lagoon.