CLARK FREEPORT – The City of San Fernando (CSF) has been recognized as zero waste champion in Asia at the recent two-day International Zero Waste Cities Conference 2019 in Penang, Malaysia.
Mayor Edwin “Edsa” D. Santiago was elated to report the recognition during the Balitaan media forum organized by the Capampangan in Media, Inc. in cooperation with the Clark Development Corp. at the Bale Balita here last Friday.
Santiago said he just came from Malaysia where CSF was recognized as zero waste champion after presenting the city’s zero waste actions to thousands of delegates from different parts of the globe.
He said in attendance where ASEAN delegates, consumer associations, Europeans, the US, and Japan.
He said the advocacy is zero waste and plastic free since there are now more plastic wastes in the ocean than fish.
The mayor said in order to attain a sustainable, livable and smart city, “we need to cut down on our waste.”
He said way back in the 1930s, the Philippines can be compared to Japan because it is beautiful.
Malaysia was then just dependent on the Philippines, he added.
But Malaysia now is beautiful. In terms of development they are ahead because they are patterned after Singapore.
Santiago said the city is not using plastic now since 2015 when the zero waste campaign was fully implemented.
“Now, our residual waste is down to 22 percent,” he said.
Santiago said the city’s zero waste thrust was even featured in an international documentary on plastic pollution entitled: The Story of Plastic.
“It will change your belief, your mindset and even our behavior on how to manage waste for a better future that we all can do,” the mayor sad.
But Santiago admitted that more than anything, discipline is the key to success. According to the City Information Office, the said documentary had its Philippine screening last week at the Central Square in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, after its premiere in the USA.
Gracing the event, on behalf of Santiago, was city environment and natural resources officer Regina Rodriguez who was also at the Balitaan media forum last Friday with other CENRO personnel.
According to Rodriguez, the feature was made possible through the help of one of the city’s partners in doing its zero waste actions – the Mother Earth Foundation (MEF), which also co-hosted the said screening.
MEF president Froilan Grate highlighted in the film the promising accomplishment of San Fernando in attaining an almost 80 percent waste diversion rate and its positive impact on financial aspect.
“Out of Zero Waste Program, San Fernando would be spending P70 million per year just to collect their waste and dump in a landfill,” he said.
