The LGU Eco Champion Project: A Closer Look at LGUs Compliance to Environmental Laws and Regulations and Unique Efforts to Sustainability

Sr. Marvie Misolas, MM
Project Leader

The LGU Eco Champion is a national survey of LGU compliance to various Philippine environmental laws and regulations that aims to determine successes and gaps in its implementation. The project is a collaboration between EMB/DENR and Green Convergence.

Project Concept

• Philippine environmental laws and regulations have varying levels of compliance.
• Environmental Management Bureau’s mandate is to set and implement metrics for environmental standards.
• LGUs are engines and enablers of growth.

Focus of Survey

• Provide measurable data to measure level of compliance to environmental laws by LGUs.
• Measurement of compliance to help assess the cost and effects of environmental degradation; benefits and advantages of environmental protection and improvement.
• Provide data to LGUs’ excellent and unique efforts towards greening and sustainability.

Timeline Process

• Survey – November 2014 – January 2015
• Result – March 27, 2015
• Shortlist – April 2015
• Validation April – September 2015
• Awarding of LGU Eco-champions – February 2016

Announcement of Awardees
Dr. Ruth De Guzman
Judge/ President, PATLEPAM

National Capital Region (NCR)

The City of Makati. As the Financial Center of the Philippines, the LGU of Makati gives high priority to environmental concerns. With the city’s limited resources, Makati has been successful in implementing its programs and projects for the environment. Its residents and non-residents alike nurture a growing consciousness and support to the environmental initiatives of the local government.

The City of Parañaque. The City of Parañaque envisions to be a model for academic excellence, public health and safety, environmental preservation and good governance, providing equal opportunities for all in a peaceful and business-friendly atmosphere through a God-centered leadership.”

The City of Pasig. It is a city with a green heart; progressive yet uncompromising in nurturing its environment; working towards climate change adaptation and mitigation. Its vision to make Pasig City a progressive city with clean air, safe water and healthy environment, outlines the importance that the Pasig City government has placed on the environment.

The City of Quezon. It envisions a “Future Perfect Quezon City,” by building a quality community that is a model of effective governance and responsible leadership, working in close partnership with its constituents. Aside from being one of the most competitive cities, Quezon City is known as the Green Lung of Metro Manila, the Philippines’ Knowledge Industry Capital and the Health and Wellness Center in Asia.

The City of Valenzuela. It upholds national decrees. Moreover, the liveable city of Valenzuela implements programs that are unique to the city and institutionalizes these through local legislation.

Cities

The City of Ligao, Albay. It envisions becoming a productive, ecologically balanced, safe and healthy environment, with diverse natural resources sustainably managed by empowered, God- fearing and resilient communities.

The City of San Fernando, La Union. It envisions to become the Center for Health and Wellness in Northern Luzon by 2020. In addition, it acknowledges that the conservation and protection of the environment plays a major role in achieving this vision.

The City of San Carlos, Negros Occidental. It city undertakes well-planned agro-industrial and socioeconomic development programs alongside environmental sustainability. With the government’s vision of becoming a Renewable Energy Hub in Asia, the city has set the tone in establishing various renewable-energy projects and other sustainable environmental practices.

Municipalities

The Municipality of Bacolod, Lanao del Norte. The municipality is geared towards the development of quality life that coexists with the environment. It believes that cleanliness is a strong requisite of Godliness. An unpolluted environment reduces the impacts of climate change which triggers natural disasters. A healthy environment also reduces conflicts and helps solve human-induced disasters.

The Municipality of Lucban, Quezon Province. Envisions itself as a prime cultural and eco-tourism destination and a center of education, trade and industry, with a committed and competent leadership and a God-loving and empowered people. Both government and people commit to a people-centered development of their community to sustain the progressive transformation of Lucban into a model for scientific agricultural production and vibrant tourism, among others.

The Municipality of San Mateo, Isabela. Envisions as the Agro-Ecological City in the Philippines with God-loving and healthy citizenry working harmoniously in an ecologically balanced environment where people and nature complement each other, thus providing the future generation a healthy and safe community to live in.

Provinces

First Philippine Environment Summit 201
The Province of Albay. A crucible of geologic and hydrometereologic hazards dramatically made evident in 2006 when Typhoon Reming brought mudslides from Mt. Mayon that caused the death of a thousand residents and millions of pesos in property damage. Ironically, battering from natural catastrophes has ingrained a culture of resilience among the people of Albay. In a few years, Albay has been transformed into a proactive model for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation – an acclaimed environment champion after Reming.

The Province of Aurora. Envisions as a Carbon Sink model of biodiversity and environmental conservation, populated by an empowered and united citizenry, under a system of responsive, effective and transparent governance, managed by development-oriented leaders aware and supportive of the needs its people as well as their right to a just and humane community that is resilient to climate change.

The Province of Negros Occidental. It is in pursuit of its vision, “Negros with a healthy environment where empowered communities enjoy sustainable economic growth.” It adopts integrated ecosystem management in managing its different ecosystems, endeavoring to conserve its natural resources from ridge to reef; empowers upland communities and coastal dwellers through capability–building activities, skills training, and provision of alternative livelihoods, to lessen dependency on forest and marine resources.

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