Environment underscored in SOCA
MAYOR Maurico Domogan underlined environmental issues during his State of the City Address Monday morning amidst the aftermath of monsoon rains.
Domogan acknowledged the importance of the city’s natural environment and tagged it as the “foremost asset that defines Baguio as unique city. We know that reviving and revitalizing our surroundings may not even be a possibility in our time.”
“Our environmental challenges can no longer be solved by conventional means alone, especially waste management. At this point, we have already considered technology based solutions for our waste problems,” Domogan said.
Domogan noted the alarming increase of complaints to backyard
piggery, poultry and animal breeders along waterways.
“I am ordering the health services office and the Cepmo to work with the barangays to determine the extent of these backyard activities and the barangays,” Domogan said.
Domogan added policies to regulate and balance backyard livestock production as a source livelihood and its impact to the environment, health and sanitation conditions in the host barangays has to be made.
The mayor also cited preparation for disasters and climate change adding “being prepared is a key to safety and resilience.”
Domogan said the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management is staffed with 13 plantilla positions and augmented by volunteers and operating 24/7 and can be mobilized anytime in case of emergencies.
“We have exerted effort to carry out our city disaster risk reduction and management plan, our roadmap to safety and resilience,” Domogan added.
Domogan said an ongoing UP-institute of environmental sciences management study which aims to conduct the fuel quality and efficiency study for the last quarter of the year will commence as well a chemical analysis of air quality monitoring linked with South Korea.
For water analysis, the chief executive said the World Water Council has committed to undertake a case analysis for financing schemes for waste water management and as he announced the city to become a pilot demonstration area for the roll out of the preparation of local sewage and septage plans and a study area for a business model assessment of sewage sludge as a commercial fertilizer.
Domogan said a revival of the clean and green program with Alay Sa Kalinisan has been made and is now in the thick of searching for the best performing barangay to supplement city environmental advocacies and programs.