PUVeP News

Barangay Consultation on the Integration of Organic Waste with Urban Agriculture in Lapasan

Barangay Lapasan was host for the first barangay-wide consultation and workshop on the integration of organic waste management with urban agriculture. The event was held from on Saturday, June 28 2008, in the covered court of Barangay Lapasan National High School. Participants included Barangay Council officials and staff, sitio leaders, as well as representatives from the broader community: local teachers, vegetable marketing associations, sikad associations, NGOs, youth and women’s organizations. About 45 participants attended.

Chairman Antonio S. Olango gave welcoming remarks. Mrs. Estrella F. Sagarel, City Planning Officer, introduced the consultation process and Ms. Jeannette Tramhel, guest researcher at PUVeP, Xavier University gave an overview of the Ecopolis project. The consultation was facilitated by members of the Technical Working Group (TWG) that has been established by the city administration for the Ecopolis project. The TWG includes representatives from the city’s various departments: Environment and Natural Resources Office (CLENRO), Public Services (CPSO), Planning and Development (CPDO), Health and Sanitation, Agricultural Productivity (APO), Community Improvement (CIO), and Economic Enterprise Development (CEED) which is responsible for local markets.

Facilitators used the approach known as “Asset-Based Community Development” or “ABCD.” During the first workshop, participants broke into small groups to identify assets within the barangay that are, or potentially could be, applicable in solid waste management and urban agriculture. Assets mentioned included the existing Santo Niño Allotment Garden, sikad drivers that already collect waste, various associations, as well as the waste itself. In the second workshop, participants were asked to find potential linkages between the assets that had been identified and waste management issues, for example, by finding potential end users of the organic waste. The consultation concluded with a pledge of commitment on the part of the Barangay Council to work collaboratively towards sustainable solid waste management. Participants were asked to help identify possible new sites within the barangay for another allotment garden and vermicomposting operation.

The next step in the process will be a follow-up consultation, in the form of a Focus Group Discussion, to be held on July 12. Participants will validate the information that is to be summarized by the facilitators from the first consultation. Out of this process they will also select a pilot project, which is to be undertaken as a work/study by a core group of community-selected participants in a 5-day intensive training course to be held later this month. The community will chose 7-8 persons to be trained as Community EcoAids, who will become role models for sustainable waste management within the barangay. During the training, they will use the pilot project that the community will have chosen as the basis for their study.

The consultation process and subsequent training is being carried out simultaneously in three barangay: Lapasan, Kauswagan and Macasandig.

The event was made possible by an ECOPOLIS Graduate Research and Design Award granted to Ms. Tramhel by the Canadian International Development Research Council. Thanks are also due to the Barangay Council and staff of Lapasan for organizing the event, and to Lapasan National High School for providing the venue.

Back 28.06.2008.