Time for united action vs. trash

Beyond yesterday’s Cebu Province-initiated Waste Summit at Marco Polo and beyond the commitment pledged by multistakeholders for Governor Pam’s Clean Cebu Campaign, the important question needing an immediate answer is what next?

- Cherry Piquero-Ballescas

During the summit, there was agreement that the waste problem in Cebu is real and urgently needing immediate, effective united, multilevel, multisectoral response and solution from all!

The summit participants were treated to a wide range of actual present and past waste management models and best practices within the various cities, towns, barangays of Cebu, in other parts of the Philippines and in other countries like Japan and China.

Waste management solutions proceed from a comprehensive understanding of the waste problem of particular localities, their available capacities/capabilities, human and other resources, good governance, strict compliance and implementation of local/national waste-related laws and ordinances, accountability, political will, people’s participation for waste segregation, among others.

There were repeated calls for commitment, partnership, collaboration, unity especially among local LGUs and multisectoral partners.

Beyond that March 19 Waste Summit, what action plan for concerted, province-wide waste management or Clean Cebu Campaign will follow?

Who will draft and finalize that action plan and when? Sooner than later, please.