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URL:https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2015/06/19/mindanao-sees-an-uptrend-in-renewable-energy-projects/
TITLE:Mindanao sees an uptrend in renewable energy projects

DATE: APRIL 30 2015

KEY INFO: BIOMASS AS RENEWABLE ENERGY

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URL: https://www.kartiniasia.com/product-page/agos-by-gilbert-angeles
TITLE: Agos by Gilbert Angeles
DATE: 2019
AUTHOR: Kartini Asia
KEY INFO: Filipino artist Gilbert Angeles is giving discarded waste a new life by incorporating materials ranging from shredded plastic to old paint and leftover construction wood in his paintings. The saying "one man's trash is another man's treasure" was interpreted in a literal sense through the form of art. Gilbert started a project of taking garbage and trash as materials to use for his contemporary painting or art, promoting the value of recycling while continually expanding the grounds for creativity and imagination.

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Gilbert AngelesAgosMixed Media on Canvas30.5″ x 22.5″2019P 35,000

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URL: https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/28004/making-difference-mindanao.pdf
TITLE: Making a Difference in Mindanao
AUTHOR:  Joel Mangahas
DATE: July 2010
KEY INFO: Mindanao is the sole producer of rubber in the country, the main agriculture source, and has an enviable amount of mineral wealth, it has yet to capitalize on its development potential since people are still indulged in poverty and other numerous impediments to sustainable growth. In this book, it is mentioned that one of the ways Mindanao may develop is capitalize on recycling; turning junk into renewable materials such as arts and crafts or raw building materials in order to sell and make profit out of it for the country.

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14)NON GOVERMENT ORGANIZATION OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION ARTICLE

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14)NON GOVERMENT ORGANIZATION OR ACADEMIC INSTITUTION ARTICLE

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URL:https://edgedavao.net/bigger-picture/2023/05/08/bigger-picture-is-waste-to-energy-a-waste-of-energy/

Author:Green Juris Organization of the Ateneo de Davao College of Law.

DATE: May 8 2023

KEY INFO:While Waste-to-energy facilities seem ideal, it does come with serious drawbacks: they are expensive. Incinerating waste requires costly infrastructure and highly trained staff to operate it, entailing significant financial outlay. In Davao City alone, the proposed WTE facility costs P6 Billion and calls for at least P3.5 billion counterpart from the government for its implementation.

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Editor's Note: This featured study is prepared by Green Juris Organization of the Ateneo de Davao College of Law. We are publishing the entire study in a series showing this independent study on the Davao City Waste-To-Energy incineration project. DISADVANTAGES OF WTE FACILITIES INCINERATION IS EXPENSIVE
While Waste-to-energy facilities seem ideal, it does come with serious drawbacks: they are expensive. Incinerating waste requires costly infrastructure and highly trained staff to operate it, entailing significant financial outlay. In Davao City alone, the proposed WTE facility costs P6 Billion and calls for at least P3.5 billion counterpart from the government for its implementation.

According to GAIA (2021), building a waste-to-energy incineration is the most expensive in capital expenditure and operational expenditure compared to other waste management options such as composting, anaerobic digestion, and landfills. It provides that the operational costs is are generally comprised of the manual labor of the skilled workers, fuel, and equipment maintenance which also includes the Environmental Compliance Certifications (EECs) with respect to air emissions, wastewater treatments, and ash disposal.

Incineration facilities, by burning solid waste, constantly need to improve their pollution control equipment to comply with differing and changing emission regulations. In some countries, more waste-to-energy facilities have shut down and are starting to shut down due to costly upgrades and changing emission regulations, as the revenues from energy are not sufficient to cover the operational expenditures. In the United States, thirty-one (31) municipal solid waste incinerators closed between the years 2000, and 2020, due to financial burden caused by costly upgrades and maintenance to comply with pollution control requirements.

Operational expenditure of different waste management options (USD/Tonne)

Studies show that WTE incineration costs more than natural gas, solar and wind energy. Another point of contention is that Waste-to-energy incineration is an inefficient way to generate energy. Burning waste for energy costs more than most existing energy sources per same unit of energy. It costs 4 (four) times more than solar power and wind energy, and costs twice as much as natural gas. Waste-to-energy incineration is even more expensive than coal power by 25%.

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS OF WTE

The lingering concerns raised by the implementation of a WTE facility in Davao City spring further than the financial costs it would entail for its completion as it posits environmental hazards in the caused by emissions. ClientEarth Communications (2021) posits that "electricity generation at incinerators will soon become closer in carbon intensity to coal and gas than to wind and solar. This is because increasing the proportion of hard-to-recycle plastic waste sent to incinerators will increase the carbon impacts of incineration. Plastic is derived from crude oil and the carbon is released when burnt. So, while the electricity grid should be decarbonizing as a result of more renewable energy sources coming online, electricity produced at the incinerator will become a major climate issue".

According to the study conducted by Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (2019), each phase of the process of incineration, it results in pollution.

Most heavy metals cause environmental and atmospheric pollution and may be lethal to humans. Heavy metals can become strongly toxic by mixing with different environmental elements, such as water, soil, and air, and humans and other living organisms can be exposed to them through the food chain.
Even with modern particle filtering of the flue gases, a small part of fine particles are emitted to the atmosphere. These heavy metals and fine particles have been repeatedly correlated spatially to infant mortality in the United Kingdom.

HEALTH IMPACTS OF INCINERATION

There are many ways people may ingest or come in contact to airborne pollutants. Those that are present in air emissions, water and residues may enter our system through simply breathing the harmful air, consuming the contaminated water, eating the by-products of contaminated land and vegetation, and cooking fish, meat or other food products that were exposed to the pollutants.

While it is true that the WTE is not yet implemented, nor is it approved by the National Economic and Development Authority but there are data sources and existing epidemiological studies which provide sufficient evidence of the direct health impacts of incinerators. According to Rosenberg (2021), regardless of what is being burned (mixed municipal solid waste, plastic, outputs from "chemical recycling"), waste incineration creates and/or releases harmful chemicals and pollutants, including: (1) air pollutants such as particulate matter, which cause lung and heart diseases; (2) heavy metals such as lead and mercury, which cause neurological diseases; and (3) Toxic chemicals, such as PFAS and dioxins, which cause cancer and other health problems.

Due to increasing quantities of waste sent to incineration, incinerators will emit more toxins and pollutants that harm the local air quality. In this regard, WTE facilities will have a more significant negative contribution to air pollution as compared to sanitary landfills. Gaseous emissions from burning solid wastes are one of the major concerns with waste-to-energy incineration facilities. Gaseous emissions include nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen chloride, heavy metals, and fine particles. Furthermore, "nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), dioxins, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are all considered air pollutants that are harmful to humans. Carbon monoxide can even provoke direct poisoning when breathed in at high levels. Heavy metals such as lead, when absorbed into the human body, can lead to direct poisoning or chronic intoxication, depending on exposure. Diseases occurring from the said substances include principally respiratory problems such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiolitis, and also lung cancer, cardiovascular events, central nervous system dysfunctions, and cutaneous diseases".

Moreover, Tait et al (2019) identified 61 (66%) papers that demonstrated a significant adverse outcome in relation to waste incineration. Of these, 34 (37%) showed exposure to elevated levels of known pollutants, nine (10%) identified an increased risk of developing some neoplasia, nine (10%) found a correlation with adverse reproductive outcomes, and nine (10%) found a link to other diseases such as hypertension or reduced lung function.

INCINERATION UNDERMINES ZERO WASTE OBJECTIVES

WTE undermines zero waste objectives, and the presence of incineration facilities encourages the production of more waste products within the city. For incineration facilities to operate effectively, it requires a constant supply of waste to burn. Thus, it diminishes the motivations of local or national governments to reduce waste at the source, because more solid waste means that the incineration facility can keep operating.

It is important to note that the onset of incineration will lead to a reduction in recycling efforts by the general populace as they become more aware of the fact that garbage and waste can be easily disposed of by burning rather than going through the effort of recycling.

THE WTE PROJECT IS IN CONTRAVENTION OF EXISTING LAWS.

Planned incinerator project would go against national laws such as the Philippine Clean Air Act, the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act and the Renewable Energy Act.
Republic Act No. 8749, otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act, is a comprehensive air quality management policy and program which aims to achieve and maintain healthy air for all Filipinos. Philippine Clean Air Act has an explicit ban on Incineration, thereby defined as the burning of municipal, biomedical and hazardous waste, which process emits poisonous and toxic fumes is hereby prohibited. The exceptions merely included traditional small-scale method of community/neighborhood sanitation "siga", traditional, agricultural, cultural, health, and food preparation and crematoria. The same section also outlines the mandate of local government units to promote, encourage and implement in their respective jurisdiction a comprehensive ecological waste management that includes waste segregation, recycling and composting. Finally, the same section emphasizes the promotion of the use of state-of-the-art, environmentally sound and safe non-burn technologies for the handling, treatment, thermal destruction, utilization, and disposal of sorted, unrecycled, uncomposted, biomedical and hazardous wastes.

On the other hand, Republic Act No. 9003, also known as Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, has as one of its policies the utilization of environmentally-sound methods that maximize the utilization of valuable resources and encourage resource conservation and recovery.

In addition, it makes express mention of the exclusion of incineration to the solutions to be implemented. To quote, " It is hereby declared the policy of the State to adopt a systematic, comprehensive and ecological solid waste management program which shall ensure the proper segregation, collection, transport, storage, treatment and disposal of solid waste through the formulation and adoption of the best environmental practice in ecological waste management excluding incineration."

As if it wasn't more obvious, the Act further defines "resource recovery" to refer to the collection, extraction or recovery of recyclable materials from the waste stream for the purpose of recycling, generating energy or producing a product suitable for beneficial use with the explicit exclusion that such resource recovery facilities exclude incineration.

Finally, Republic Act No. 9513, or the Renewable Energy Act, while it indeed mentioned the exploration and adoption of waste-to-energy solutions, it made no mention of the use of non-recyclable and non-biodegradable waste as sources of energy. Said act clarifies what waste-to-energy technologies are covered: As used in this Act, waste-to-energy technologies shall refer to systems which convert to biodegradable materials such as, but not limited to, animal manure or agricultural waste, into useful energy through processes such as anaerobic digestion, fermentation and gasification, among others, subject to the provisions and intent of Republic Act No. 8749 (Clean Air Act of 1999) and Republic Act No. 9003 (Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000).

ALTERNATIVES TO WTE

UPSCALING SEGREGATION, RECYCLING EFFORTS AND FUNDING OF MATERIAL RECOVERY FACILITIES IN THE BARANGAY AND PUROK LEVELS
An alternative to the waste-to-energy incinerator is to upscale recycling efforts at a local level. This prevents the introduction of harmful pollutants into the air and food chain starting with the individual consumer. It is clear that not all waste can be recycled; however, if recycling efforts are a success, it will likely result in a reduction in the amount of waste needed to be disposed of.

MRFs reduce the garbage streams from the households by simply segregating the recyclable materials such as glass, metals and plastics from the biodegradable materials. In an article by Colina IV (2023), it was mentioned that under Republic Act 9003 or Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, barangays need to establish materials recovery facilities (MRF) to receive, sort, process, and store compostable and recyclable materials. Out of 182 barangays in the city, only Barangays Tacunan, Mintal, Mahayag, Gumalang, Lapu-Lapu, Hizon, and Catalunan Grande have functioning MRFs.

If we exploited every available opportunity to recycle the plastic, metal, glass, rubber and other non-organic waste that gets discarded, and if we composted as much of our excess organic matter as we conceivably could, zero waste supporters say we could cut our garbage production by as much as 80 percent . Through reuse and repurposing, and detailed planning to reduce our creation of waste from the get-go, we could get rid of most of the rest, they argue-and for the most part they do so persuasively.

II. APPROACH POLICY-MAKING DIRECTIVES THROUGH WASTE HIERARCHY

Waste Hierarchy Diagram: Mildred Williams

The Amended Waste Framework Directive of the EU (2018) ranks waste management options according to what has the best outcome for the environment. The waste hierarchy is a pivotal tool for policy making as it provides viable solutions on waste management. This is a tool for the framers of the law, national or local, to look into greener alternatives in the waste disposal.

First, prevention also includes reduction as it encompasses the utilization of less material. It technically entails not using anything at all which can contribute to the wastage. Thus, streamlining the design and manufacturing process and preventing large surplus or scraps and as a result excess waste. This stage includes the promotion of research and development into a cleaner, less wasteful products and technologies.

Second, on the reusing stage, it involves cleaning, repairing, repainting, refurbishing, and prolonging the use of the items in whole or in part.

Third, recycling. This is a very common term and the most popular among the stages. This involves the re-creation of solid waste materials into new substances or products.

Fourth, whenever waste backfills or replaces another material, this is recovery. This includes energy generation such as gasification and pyrolysis. Acid or base regeneration and reclaiming metals for re-use.

Finally, the disposal stage which comprises anything that could no longer be reused, recycled or recovered. This is where the landfills and incineration facilities fall.

BAN ON SINGLE USE PLASTICS

Single use plastics are amongst the major culprits of the mass production of municipal wastes. A move from the local government banning the use of single use plastics for household, commercial and industrial use may reduce garbage in our locality.

The ban on single-use plastics has been implemented by several countries around the globe to reduce environmental pollution and promote sustainable practices. Single-use plastics include commonly used items such as plastic bags, straws, fast food cutlery, and packaging materials, designed to be thrown away after its first use.

Over 100 countries now have a full or partial ban on single-use plastic bags. Between 2010 and 2019, the number of public policies intended to phase out plastic carryout bags tripled. In Europe, 18 countries have imposed bans on thin plastic bags - including France, Germany, Italy, Iceland, and Albania.

With the proper utilization of the policy-making powers of the government and dealing with the violations with severity and imposition of penalties and taxes, businesses and individuals can help reduce plastic waste by embracing more sustainable options such as using reusable bags, bottles, and containers as well as proper disposal of reusable materials.

CONCLUSION

This paper is submitted as a reiteration of the Green Juris' call for the protection, preservation, and conservation of our environment. The Organization believes that there is a need to divest and reject the option of putting up a WTE facility in Davao City as its negative impacts would far outweigh the positive.

There are already many environmental groups, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Farmers' Groups and Academic Societies that are vocal about the proposed WTE facilities. We, at Green Juris also echo their sentiments. It is important to reinforce the notion that the environmental and health consequence we are yet to experience will not become mere isolated incidents by reason of underestimation. We highlight the probable impacts as we will not confront them only at one instance but in years and years to come and from generation to generation.

We believe that bringing about WTE technologies and facilities within our midst only present a band-aid solution as there have been studies already conducted that such post health and environmental risks. It also undermines community efforts on waste reduction, recycling, and recovery efforts. The support we need should be geared towards actual, sustainable solutions.

With these, we respectfully present our alternatives in place of the said project:
1. Upscaling segregation, recycling efforts and funding of material recovery facilities in the barangay and purok levels;
2. Approach policy-making directives through waste hierarchy; and
3. Ban on single use plastics.

Furthermore, we urge our Davao City Council to conduct thorough scientific an public consultations that would provide the citizens, stakeholders, interest groups, organizations and academic societies to raise their concerns, provide feedbacks and suggestions which will contribute to the decision-making process. The consideration of the diverse opinions as well as the technical and scientific schools of thought would be a great leap forward in taking into account the possible consequences of today's actions.

To this end, we cite the landmark case of Oposa vs. Factoran, 224 SCRA 792, which stressed the right of the Filipinos to a balanced and healthful ecology which is associated with the twin concepts of "inter-generational responsibility" and "inter-generational justice". We owe it to the future generations to act in a responsible and sustainable manner by way of preserving natural resources, protecting the environment, and on the fair distribution of benefits and burdens.

Green Juris, as an environmental arm of the Ateneo de Davao University Law Students, bears the intention of imparting to you our common yolk of inter-generational responsibility and inter-generational justice. It is our common duty to promote sustainability and equity across time, and we must acknowledge the interconnectedness and interdependence of generations.

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BIGGER PICTURE: Is waste-to-energy a waste of energy?

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While Waste-to-energy facilities seem ideal, it does come with serious drawbacks: they are expensive. Incinerating waste requires costly infrastructure and highly trained staff to operate it, entailing significant financial outlay. In Davao City alone, the proposed WTE facility costs P6 Billion and

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URL:https://open.spotify.com/episode/43XHmltOIkAK8bxm5D5nlJ

Author: The MindaNews PODCAST

Date: March 2022

KEY INFO:Davao City is pursuing a plan to build a waste to energy plant, and environmentalists are not convinced this should be the way to go.

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The arguments against Waste to Energy: Interview with No Burn Pilipinas and IDIS

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Listen to this episode from The MindaNews Podcast on Spotify. This edition is brought to you in partnership with the No Burn Pilipinas campaign of the Eco-Waste Coalition, under the Break Free from Plastic project. Davao City is pursuing a plan to build a waste to energy plant, and environmentalists are not convinced this should be the way to go.

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URL:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OUN1XA7pIc

TITLE: Plastic Smart Cities Video Series:Davao City

Author:WWF-PHILIPPINES

DATE:JAN 24 2022

KEY INFO:Kalambuan Women's Association is a women's group based in Davao City that creates products using plastic materials. They buy plastic waste from different establishments, turning them into valuable products such as wallets and bags. They also use old magazines and turn them into beads, which are used to create mask lanyards, rosaries, and other accessories.

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Plastic Smart Cities Video Series: Davao City

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3AVp6s2_hFI or https://www.philstar.com/business/2023/05/19/2267271/government-spend-p12-trillion-infrastructure-mindanao
TITLE: Government to spend P1.2 trillion for infrastructure in Mindanao

AUTHOR: LOUISE MAUREEN SIMEON
DATE: MAY 19 2023

KEY INFO: The Philippine government aims to invest at least P1.2 trillion in infrastructure projects in Mindanao during the Marcos administration's term, with 35 percent of priority programs and projects to be located in the region over the next six years. These projects, including the Mindanao Railway and various airports, aim to boost economic growth, enhance connectivity, and facilitate the movement of people and goods in Mindanao. The financing for these projects will come from a mix of sources, including official development assistance, general appropriations, and public-private partnerships.

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Louise Maureen Simeon - The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines - The government targets to pour in at least P1.2 trillion worth of infrastructure projects in Mindanao over the course of the Marcos administration's term.

Department of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno said the government is committed to provide resources for Mindanao's infrastructure development in a bid to boost economic growth in the island.

Based on the Public Investment Program (PIP), 35 percent or 1,310 out of the 3,770 priority programs and projects of the government will be located in Mindanao over the next six years.

The planned Mindanao projects have a combined investment of at least P1.2 trillion.

The investments will on top of the at least 30 out of the 194 high-impact infrastructure flagship projects that will support investments in Mindanao.

These include the Mindanao Railway, Samal Island-Davao City Connector, Cagayan de Oro Coastal Road, Davao City Expressway, and preparations for the new Zamboanga Airport, Bukidnon Airport, and Siargao Sayak Airport.

This, as the government intends to sustain the annual infrastructure spending at five to six percent of the economy.

"The idea is to link and integrate markets, connect urban centers to rural areas, and facilitate the movement of people and goods to expand access to more opportunities for local industries. Ultimately, this will boost productivity," Diokno said.

Further, the Mindanao projects are seen adopting a mix of financing from various development partners through official development assistance (ODA), general appropriations, and public-private partnerships (PPPs).

As of end-2022, there are 97 active or ongoing ODA-loan and grant funded projects and programs being implemented in Mindanao.

There are also 35 ongoing projects with total loan and grant commitments of $4.2 billion from bilateral and multilateral development partners.

The DOF has likewise committed to assist Mindanao in its implementation of the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) Vision 2025 to make Mindanao a key economic driver in the sub-region.

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Government to spend P1.2 trillion for infrastructure in Mindanao

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The government targets to pour in at least P1.2 trillion worth of infrastructure projects in Mindanao over the course of the Marcos administration's term.

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URL:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djEmslaM9Ak&t=84s
TITLE:   TURNING PLASTIC WASTE INTO FURNITURE! Amazing Filipino Innovation in Davao

AUTHOR: KUMANDER DAOT
DATE: FEB 14, 2022

KEY INFO:  He has innovated a way to melt down plastic candy wrappers, soft drink bottles, bags and more into strong, fireproof, blocks - that can be used as tiles, furniture, and so much more.

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TURNING PLASTIC WASTE INTO FURNITURE! Amazing Filipino Innovation in Davao

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URL: https://mb.com.ph/2022/01/22/from-rash-to-treasure-filipina-farmers-in-mindanao-make-eco-bags-out-of-agricultural-waste/
TITLE:  Filipina farmers in Mindanao make eco bags out of agricultural waste

AUTHOR:  VINA MEDENILLA
DATE: Jan 22, 2022

KEY INFO:  In Santo Niño, South Cotabato, a group of 15 women farmers from PALAI, Inc., have launched eco-friendly bags made from rice straw, a by-product often discarded as waste. PALAI sources rice straw from members' farms and neighboring farmers, creating handcrafted paper bags that sell for prices ranging from P20 to P45. The initiative not only provides sustainable livelihoods for women farmers but also helps mitigate environmental pollution by repurposing rice straw and offering a greener alternative to single-use plastics.

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Many Filipinos rely on agriculture for food, income, and beyond, especially those that live in landlocked municipalities.

However, in recent years, local farmers have been suffering severely from the low prices of palay after it dropped due to the pandemic and implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law (RTL).

Owing to this, farmers are finding more ways to augment their income amid the COVID-19 health crisis.

In Santo Niño, South Cotabato, a group of 15 women farmers launched unique and earth-friendly bags with the same goal.

All of them are members of a farmer group called People's Action For Liberative Agricultural Industry, Inc. (PALAI, Inc.).

Three out of 15 women farmers and producers of PALAI's rice straw paper bags.

Successfully finding a niche in the market
PALAI chairperson Mael Jethel J. Kapunan, 58, chanced upon paper-based packaging materials way back in 2012 during an agricultural training course in Japan.

Their organization has been trying out different products since 2014. However, due to a lack of resources and equipment, they failed to sustain their production.

In 2020, after a series of consultations with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the local government of Sto. Nino, South Cotabato, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and Department of Science and Technology (DOST), PALAI came up with the idea of handcrafted eco bags made from rice straw.

Rice straw, or dayami, is often considered an agricultural waste product from harvested rice plants. It is typically burnt in the fields, which contributes significantly to pollution. This is what PALAI aims to mitigate.

Instead of burning and discarding dayami, PALAI members turn these rice by-products into eco-friendly bags.

These paper bags are handcrafted by local women farmers whose livelihood are affected by the COVID-pandemic.

How do they make it?
The women put a lot of effort and time into making these eco bags, which take hours to make. Every day, one farmer can produce up to 30 paper sheets.

Rice straw is boiled for four hours, cleaned and washed afterward, then stored in a disintegrator for grinding.

Once crushed into pieces, they are placed in a tub and transferred into a cartolina-sized mold. Farmers wait for the straws to dry and form into solid paper sheets. After that, the papers are cut according to the size of the bag that farmers want to create.
An agribusiness that sustains the farmers and environment
Our local farmers and the environment can both benefit from these rice straw products.

PALAI sources rice straw from the members' farms or neighboring farmers for P10 per sack, which can produce approximately 40 paper sheets.

Apart from providing a greener alternative for single-use plastics, the paper sheets can also serve as wallpaper and sometimes, even as a DIY canvas for paintings. Its usage largely depends on how clients wish to utilize them in order to satisfy their needs, said Kapunan.

After use, the handmade eco bags can also be recycled as fertilizer. "Rice straw from one-hectare can generate an equivalent of two bags of 14-14-14 granular complete fertilizer when it is decomposed," he added.

PALAI's eco bags are available in different sizes, strings or ropes, and colors.

PALAI's paper bags come in a variety of sizes and forms, with prices ranging from P20 to P45.

The sales go directly to women producers, and they allot a royalty fee of P5 per sold paper sheet to the organization.

These farmers prove that agriculture can provide more than just food. Imagine how much Filipino farmers can achieve if given sufficient support and appreciation.
Photos courtesy of PALAI Handmade Paper Industry For more information, contact 09164971439 or visit PALAI Handmade Paper Industry Read more about farming and gardening at agriculture.com.ph

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From trash to treasure: Filipina farmers in Mindanao make eco bags out of agricultural waste

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In Santo Niño, South Cotabato, a group of 15 women farmers launched unique and earth-friendly bags with the goal to augment their income amid the pandemic.

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URL:  https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1198634/two-seaside-towns-in-mindanao-join-war-on-plastic-waste

TITLE :  Two seaside towns in Mindanao join war on plastic waste.
AUTHOR:  Bong Sarmiento
DATE: DECEMBER 6, 2019

KEY INFO: Two coastal towns in Mindanao, the Island Garden City of Samal and San Isidro, have committed to eliminating plastic pollution within 10 years by participating in the Plastic Smart Cities movement initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

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SAN ISIDRO, DAVAO ORIENTAL‍-Two coastal towns in Mindanao have vowed to eliminate plastic pollution in 10 years by signing up with the Plastic Smart Cities movement initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Located at the heart of the Davao Gulf, the Island Garden City of Samal, popularly known as Samal Island in Davao del Norte province; and across from it, San Isidro town in Davao Oriental province, joined the movement waged by the world's cities against plastics this week.The two seaside communities were the first towns in Mindanao to have joined 12 other areas, now celebrated as the world's leading cities against plastic waste, as part of WWF's global No Plastics in Nature initiative.The Plastic Smart Cities movement is a global initiative for cities and tourism destinations that are fighting plastic pollution.Chrisma Salao, WWF-Philippines vice president for conservation program, said the global conservation nonprofit had been working on climate change adaptation and marine protection projects in Davao Gulf since 2008.

"[The Island Garden City of Samal and San Isidro] have taken an important step in securing a sustainable future for their residents," she said.

Salao said they would help these local governments minimize, prevent and manage plastics, both as a livelihood resource and as waste.
Tourist destinations
Plastic trash, she said, poses danger to the environment, public health and the economy.

Apart from the two Davao Gulf towns, Donsol in Sorsogon is the only other locality in the Philippines that joined WWF's war against plastics.

These areas are tourism destinations offering different attractions.

Samal Island, which is Davao City's closest tourism getaway, is known for its white sand beaches and the Monfort bat sanctuary. San Isidro town's tourist drawer is Mt. Hamiguitan Range Wildlife Sanctuary, earlier declared world's heritage site by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization for its diverse flora and fauna. It was also declared an Asean Heritage Park.

Donsol is famous for its "butanding" or whale shark sightseeing tours.

According to WWF data, an estimated 80 percent of plastic marine debris today has been coming from land-based sources, a large portion of which are urban areas, whose polluted waterways carry discarded plastic to the ocean.
Island Garden City of Samal Mayor Al David Uy said the Plastic Smart Cities project was timely as Samal Island targeted to extend the life span of its sanitary landfill through plastics reduction.
Commitment
WWF and the Island Garden City of Samal, as part of their commitment to help stop the leakage of plastic waste into the ocean each year, agreed to work toward a "100-percent plastic waste diversion" by 2030, through residuals processing, education campaign, segregation and recycling, and the implementation of the city's environmental code.

By joining WWF's war against plastic waste, San Isidro has also committed to generate and support solutions in addressing the plastics problem in the town.Mayor Justina Yu says San Isidro is implementing the "Dili Nako sa Plastik' (I am Against Plastic), a local environment and livelihood program on plastic recovery and recycling.

"We should set the example now for the sake of our future generation, " she said in Cebuano.

The San Isidro local government started its campaign to reduce plastic use after sea turtles turned up dead along coastal villages. The turtles were later found to have ingested plastic trash, Yu said.

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Two seaside towns in Mindanao join war on plastic waste

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Two coastal towns in Mindanao have vowed to eliminate plastic pollution in 10 years by signing up with the Plastic Smart Cities movement initiated by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

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URL: https://www.facebook.com/DTI.ConsumerCare/videos/480622892971166
TITLE: Consumer Care Webinar Session 75 Topic: Zero Waste Philippines: Recycling and Material Sustainability Programs
AUTHOR: DTI Consumer Care
DATE: March 19, 2021
KEY INFO: One of the initiatives of the National Solid Waste Management Commission (NSWMC) is to increase the recovery rates of recycling rates, especially in Metro Manila and Southern Mindanao, through the recycling of waste into arts and crafts, construction materials like hollow blocks and eco-bricks, and energy recovery like fuel and electricity.

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Consumer Care Webinar Session 75 Topic: Zero Waste Philippines: Recycling and Material Sustainability Programs | Consumer Care Webinar Session 75 Topic: Zero Waste Philippines: Recycling and Material Sustainability Programs | By DTI Consumer Care | Facebook

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Consumer Care Webinar Session 75 Topic: Zero Waste Philippines: Recycling and Material Sustainability Programs

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URL: https://www.eria.org/uploads/media/Research-Project-Report/RPR_FY2009_10_Chapter_3.pdf
TITLE: Study on Recyclables Collection Trends and Best Practices in the Philippines
AUTHOR: Lisa C. Antonio
DATE: March 2010
KEY INFO: There is huge potential in trading recyclables such as paper, iron, aluminum, glass, etc. to other countries to be used in construction settings. Recyclables Collection Fairs are held annually on Earth Day because these are part of environmental advocacy efforts of business groups or companies such as Davao City Chamber of Commerce, MetroBank Group, or SMART Communications. To date, these Recyclables Collection Events (RCEs) have collected recyclable materials worth P3,434,769.67 and channeled these to the local recycling industry. Recycling waste into materials in the Philippines is in a relatively infant stage, but has a large potential for growth if the various stakeholders examine the lessons learned from the industry’s experience or achievement so far.

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Shining the spotlight on Mindanao's textile fibers | The Final Word RESEARCHED BY: Charles Mark D. Sanchez

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieRi7w5A7sk&ab_channel=CNNPhilippines
TITLE: Shining the spotlight on Mindanao's textile fibers | The Final Word
AUTHOR: CNN Philippines
DATE: September 8 2023
KEY INFO: Agricultural waste in Mindanao is recycled and turned into textile fibers.

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Shining the spotlight on Mindanao's textile fibers | The Final Word

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One Mindanao: Waste-to-energy project sa Davao City RESEARCHED BY: Charles Mark D. Sanchez

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URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvGCj2gaZJ8&ab_channel=GMARegionalTV
TITLE: One Mindanao: Waste-to-energy project sa Davao City
AUTHOR: One Mindanao
KEY INFO: WTE Project in Mindanao, specifically in Davao City, to recycle waste, but some environmental groups are still against the said project.

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One Mindanao: Waste-to-energy project sa Davao City

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Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash in Mindanao RESEARCHED BY: Charles Mark D. Sanchez

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URL: https://news.mongabay.com/2019/12/philippine-coastal-town-leads-war-against-plastic-trash-in-mindanao/
TITLE: Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash in Mindanao

AUTHOR: Bong S. Sarmiento
KEY INFO: San Isidro pledged to develop an action plan within the next six-months to pilot a project that will reduce plastic pollution by 30% within two years. It plans to achieve that by continuing to pay community members to collect plastic garbage, and recycling it into “eco-bricks” that will be used for local construction projects.

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Philippine coastal town leads war against plastic trash in Mindanao

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DAVAO, Philippines - On August 4, 2018, a fisherman found an endangered green turtle (Chelonia mydas) floating weakly in the Davao Gulf, a diverse marine ecosystem and rich fishing ground spanning 308,000 hectares in the southern Mindanao region. The fisherman brought the stranded juvenile female green turtle ashore where it breathed more easily after a plastic food [...]

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URL:https://www.facebook.com/envirotechphil/posts/pfbid0X5e4GTVePcpautFmLeX3wGS3ECVf6FWUh2CxgGohaVxXfgjrMWddh558qmYcre4Rl
TITLE: Envirotech Waste Recycling Inc. is showcasing its eco-friendly products at the National Trade Fair: A Green Show on August 22-25, 2019 at the Megatrade Halls 1-3, Mega-B, SM Megamall.
AUTHOR: Envirotech Waste Reyling Inc.
KEY INFO: A company in Davao City showcased how they turn waste into sustainable and creative products.

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8. ACADEMIC INSITUTIONS PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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8. ACADEMIC INSITUTIONS PROMOTIONAL VIDEO

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TITLE: Capacitating Philippine State Universities in Sustainable Land Use Development and Infrastructure.
AUTHOR: Dr. Jupiter V. Casas, EnP
DATE: MARCH 13 2022
KEY INFO: CMU's goal is to promote proper land use and allocation while responding to the challenges of development in Mindanao.

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CHED-CMU-LUDIP Promotional Video | Promotional Video of the CHED-CMU Program entitled "Capacitating Philippine State Universities in Sustainable Land Use Development and Infrastructure... | By LUDIP | Facebook

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Promotional Video of the CHED-CMU Program entitled "Capacitating Philippine State Universities in Sustainable Land Use Development and Infrastructure...

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URL: https://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/Pdacf122.pdf
TITLE: ALLIANCE FOR MINDANAO OFF-GRID RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT
AUTHOR: USAID
DATE: NOVEMBER 2021
KEY INFO: The document is a final performance report of the alliance for Mindanao off-grid renewal energy. The AMORE Project was designed to support USAID/Philippines’ objectives related to poverty alleviation, social and economic development, environmental sustainability, and peace and order in Mindanao by electrifying at least 160 off-grid rural communities, called barangays, in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) and Western, Central and Southern Mindanao with renewable energy (RE) systems.

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Environmentalists slam P5-billion waste-to-energy project in Davao City RESEARCHED BY: Charles Mark D. Sanchez

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URL:https://www.rappler.com/nation/mindanao/environmentalists-statement-waste-to-energy-incineration-project-davao-city/
TITLE: Environmentalists slam P5-billion waste-to-energy project in Davao City
AUTHOR: Rappler
DATE: FEB 14 2023
KEY INFO:  The local government views WTE incineration as a long-term solution to the city's garbage problem, particularly for non-biodegradable waste, with the goal of converting it into energy.

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DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Environmental groups have opposed the local government's plan to address Davao City's worsening garbage problem through a more than P5-billion waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration project with the help of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The groups expressed concern that the proposed WTE project will exacerbate the climate crisis as it will burn plastics and produce a high amount of greenhouse gases and toxic emissions.

Despite the opposition, the local government still sees WTE incineration as a long-term solution to the waste problem by burning non-biodegradable waste and converting it to energy.

It has targeted the construction of the facility within a 10-hectare agricultural property in Biao Escuela, Tugbok District.

Environmental groups argued that it was not a sustainable solution, even as they said the local government should prioritize instead zero waste systems such as single-use plastic bans, reuse and refill systems, waste reduction and segregation at the source, productive biodegradable waste management, and community support for proper implementation of ecological solid waste management.

Interface Development Intervention for Sustainability (IDIS), Ateneo de Davao's Ecoteneo, Ecowaste Coalition, and Sustainable Davao Movement have expressed their strong opposition to the project, asserting that it would not be an environmentally sound solution to the waste management problem.

The group Plastic Free Davao said the burning of plastics would harm the public health and environment of the residents of 20 villages located within the 10-kilometer radius of the proposed site in Tugbok.

Environmentalists said the planned incinerator project would go against national laws such as the Clean Air Act, which prohibits incineration; the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act, which promotes more environmentally sound waste management solutions; and the Renewable Energy Act, which excludes non-recyclable and non-biodegradable waste in its definition of renewable energy resources.

"We urge the local government to address the waste crisis through zero waste systems such as single-use plastic ban, reuse and refill systems, waste reduction and segregation at source, productive biodegradable waste management, and community support for proper implementation of ecological solid waste management," their joint statement read in part.

The statement from 71 civil society and environment groups in the city also called out JICA for allegedly promoting and investing in false solutions to waste management.

The groups said JICA has been "instrumental" in introducing WTE incinerators since 2010.

However, Ide Soichiro, senior representative of JICA-Philippines, said they were neither funding nor implementing the construction of the proposed WTE facility.

Davao City, with a population of 1.6 million, generates 600 to 650 tons of garbage every day, according to data from the Davao City Environment and Natural Resources (CENRO).

Getting rid of the garbage is a massive undertaking. The city government collects and disposes of garbage from 182 villages into the city's sanitary landfill in Barangay New Carmen, Tugbok District. But since 2016, the landfill has exceeded its maximum capacity of 700,000 to 800,000 tons, accumulating 900,000 tons.

Some villages have taken the initiative to address the problem. In Barangay Mintal, village officials and non-government organizations have teamed up to collect recyclable waste such as bottles, cartons, and plastic scraps, and sell them to recycling facilities.

Randy Irog of the Mintal Resource Collectors said their members collect garbage house-to-house and teach waste segregation, generating income and helping the village push garbage collection costs down.

"(We) generate income at the same time help the barangay in minimizing the cost used in garbage collection," Irog said.

City hall has sought the approval of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for the WTE project.

Assistant city administrator Tristan Dwight Domingo said city hall needs an additional P3.5 billion from the national government to construct the P5.23-billion WTE facility. Japan has reportedly donated P2.052 billion for the project.

Domingo said, "(C)ities across the world like in Japan and Southeast Asia were successful with their respective solid waste management programs as they are usually done with support from their national governments through subsidy and funding."

The WTE project was first proposed in 2015 in partnership with JICA, with a feasibility study confirming the viability of establishing the facility.

In 2019, the Japanese and Philippine governments signed a grant agreement worth P2.052 billion to fund the construction and operation of a P5.23 billion WTE incinerator in the city as part of a development support collaboration program with the Private Sector for Disseminating Japanese Technology.

If it pushes through, the government will cover the remaining cost of approximately P3 billion, as requested by the Davao City Council through a resolution in August 2022. - Rappler.com
Lucelle Bonzo is an Aries Rufo Journalism fellow.

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Environmentalists slam P5-billion waste-to-energy project in Davao City

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Environmental groups say the proposed project will only exacerbate the climate crisis as it will burn plastics

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Davao City waste-to-energy project to fuel climate change, groups warn RESEARCHED BY: Charles Mark D. Sanchez

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URL: https://www.philstar.com/headlines/climate-and-environment/2022/05/15/2181288/davao-city-waste-energy-project-fuel-climate-change-groups-warn
TITLE: Davao City waste-to-energy project to fuel climate change, groups warn
AUTHOR: PHILSTAR
DATE: May 15 2022
KEY INFO: WTE projects are an easy way to address the waste crisis in Davao, but some groups disagree.

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DAVAO CITY, Philippines - Hundreds of garbage flies infest homes, flying from waste to food, to children. The decaying stench of the dumpsite lingers as families eat. It was almost noon and waste pickers like Virgilio Romero*, 44, scavenge waste on the mountain of garbage under the scorching 51-degree celsius heat.

This is the everyday scene at the eleven-year-old seven-hectare sanitary landfill located in New Carmen, Tugbok - Davao City's only sanitary landfill.

According to the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the city generates around 900 tons of garbage per day, and waste pickers like Romero find a living by recycling the dumpsite's overflowing waste.

"This has been our family's livelihood since we moved to the city. It was what was expected as I didn't finish my studies, and there weren't any suitable jobs for me since I do not have a degree," said Romero.

Romero comes from a family of landless peasants in Mati, Davao Oriental, tilling farmland less than a hectare in size. He doesn't earn money from working in the field and is only paid for his labor with a portion of their produce.

At New Carmen, he takes home P200 daily for scavenging for plastics, cans, and sacks for 11 hours from 6 a.m. - 5 p.m. Romero said that life as a waste picker hasn't been easy, but it's better compared to not earning anything when he was a farmer.

However, by 2023, the landfill where Romero resides and finds a living will be unserviceable as the rapid urbanization and poor waste segregation of Davao will drive it to its full capacity.

And as a response to the city's waste crisis, the local government of Davao City plans to construct a P2.5 billion waste-to-energy (WTE) facility, funded by a Japanese loan, on a 10-hectare property in Biao Escuela in the Tugbok District.

The landfill will be closed down and converted to a segregation area for the WTE facility, and over 100 waste pickers will be asked to leave.

"We don't know what will happen to us and our homes. They started measuring houses and promised to compensate us for P30,000. Until now, they don't have a concrete plan for us," said Romero.

Waste fueling the climate crisis
Mountain of trash at the New Carmen dumpsite
The local government eyes the WTE incinerator as a "long-term solution" to its solid waste problem. By burning household garbage, household wastes would replace coal and oil in producing energy.

Environmental groups like Greenpeace and Plastic-Free Pilipinas Project, however, oppose this technology because the burning of non-biodegradable wastes is no different from burning fossil fuels. Plastics, after all, are made from fossil fuels.

Marian Ledesma, a zero-waste campaigner of Greenpeace, said that the whole concept and scheme of burning waste for energy is unnecessarily costly and counter to the idea of reducing waste.

"It even encourages cities to produce more waste, because these incinerators would require a minimum amount on a daily and weekly basis to produce energy," she said.

Ledesma said that the WTE incinerator also goes against the country's Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, a law designed to promote zero-waste practices and waste segregation. On top of this, it is also prohibited under Section 20 of the Clean Air Act.

"WTE projects are an easy way out to address the waste crisis. And it attempts to address the waste problem without changing problematic parts of the system, beginning from plastic production," she said.

The European Commission has also been defunding WTE incinerator projects because of the realization that such facilities do not contribute to climate action and instead even worsen the climate crisis.

Ledesma said that perhaps the reason that groups and loans are pushing for WTE projects in developing countries like the Philippines is that this technology is already being questioned in developed nations.

"If you look at WTE, it's no longer included in EU sustainable economic activities. And because they're not able to market in their region, they push that narrative in poorer regions where laws and policies have not yet decided if the technology is eco-friendly. They are banking and trying to find a way of investment elsewhere," she explained.

She also flagged that most often these types of projects are also located in low-income areas where communities are more vulnerable to suffering from climate impacts as a result of dirty technology.

No proper consultation
Biao Escuela is an agricultural community surrounded by banana and coconut plantations. Residents rely on growing poultry and farming for their livelihood.
The WTE facility will be constructed at Biao Escuela, a 10-hectare of agricultural land south of Davao. The proposed site is only 2.2 kilometers away from the barangay's school and 550m from the planned relocation site.

Jill Banta, regional coordinator for Mindanao of the Plastic-Free Pilipinas Project said that the construction of the facility may also have long-term effects on residents of Biao Escuela and nearby communities.

"Persistent organic pollutants such as dioxins and furans are produced when plastics are burned. This can cause respiratory and reproductive diseases, birth defects, and cancer to the already marginalized low-income agricultural communities in Biao Escuela," said Banta.

"Beyond the community, its toxic by-products may reach our plates through the food chain because food and poultry products are sourced in Biao Escuela," she added.

Nerea Tagunon*, 60, is a sari-sari store owner at Biao Escuela. Her family moved to the community three years ago after having been displaced from their homes due to road widening in Catalunan Grande, Davao.

Tagunon and her neighbors weren't properly consulted about the project, and it's common for residents of Biao Escuela to make uninformed decisions because of the lack of consultation with the local government.

Residents think that the facility to be built is a plastic recycling factory, providing them employment. And while the WTE project may give them jobs, what residents do not know is that the facility can only employ people with engineering backgrounds.

"I think having the waste-to-energy incinerator project here would be helpful to our community because it will give us jobs," said Tagunon.

"From the demographics of their community, who are mostly agricultural workers, poultry growers, and laborers, the only job they could secure would be short-term construction jobs for the facility," said Banta.

Tagunon has lost hope to fight for their homes and their right to proper relocation.

"If it's going to smell, then what difference would it make? The river here stinks from poultry waste, so the smell of burning plastic is not going to matter. We'll just be a place where you could inhale all the chemicals and bad odor. Let the government do whatever they want, we can't do anything about it anymore," Tagunon said hopelessly.

The 60-year-old resident however admitted that if they were to be properly consulted, she would prefer for the project not to push through.

"Of course, nobody would want to be exposed to that hazard, nobody would want to inhale all that waste. But we have already been displaced in the past, and it's not like people like me still have a say," she said.

A few meters away from Tagunon lives Esmelita Roxas* 70, who, like Tagunon, knows little about the project.

"I'm worried about the effects of the incinerator, but our barangay captain said that the technology worked in Japan. We're just putting our trust in him," said Roxas.

"And even if we're against it, we can't do anything about it because we're only ordinary citizens. We'll be fighting against powerful people. At this point, we're only praying that if it pushes through, we won't be left behind."

Working zero-waste solutions

Ledesma and Banta said that the waste problem in Davao and the Philippines can be solved without burning plastics, especially when 50% of Davao's waste is biodegradable, and while 200 to 300 tons of its landfill waste is food waste.

Davao-based agronomist Peter Damary of Limadol introduced using black soldier flies to handle food waste by developing a natural insect protein for poultry that utilizes biodegradable waste from the landfill.

They collect a total of 400-700 kgs of food waste from restaurants and households at Barangay Mintal and Barangay Tacunan four times a week which they feed to the black soldier flies in their facility.

Black soldier flies consume food waste and produce a byproduct called frass which is useful as feeds for poultry or as organic fertilizers.

"At the start, it was very difficult, because people didn't really segregate their waste. They were used to dumping everything because no one was in charge of segregating, and collectors just combine already segregated waste with each other," said Damary.

From only collecting 60 kilograms twice a week in February 2021, Damary's small business now collects 150 kgs of food waste three or four times a week.

"We were able to address this problem by being strict about our collection. We took the time to educate households to segregate food waste, and eventually, they picked it up," he added.

Today Limadol collects food waste from over 200 households and five restaurants around Barangay Mintal and Barangay Tacunan.

Damary said that their system works because they are consistent. According to him, people needed consistency so that they would be driven to follow.

He recalled that in the beginning, some households would still mix non-biodegradable waste with biodegradables, and to show their commitment, they didn't pick up food waste that wasn't well segregated.

"They eventually followed, and they are now very enthusiastic about it," said Damary.

When food decomposes anaerobically in landfills, it creates methane, a major global warming gas.

According to the organization Extra Food, every 100 pounds of food waste in landfills produces 8.3 pounds of methane into the atmosphere. And in over 20 years, methane has 86 times the global warming effect of carbon dioxide.

"Methane from food waste contributes to the climate crisis, and if we have systems in place then this initiative will not only be beneficial for waste management but also climate mitigation," explained Damary

An odorless landfill powered by a bio activator is also segregating tons of biodegradable waste from industrial companies and restaurants an hour away from Barangay Mintal.

Aimea Lumpay, plant manager of Davao Thermo Biotech, said that their composting facility uses a patented YMO activator from Japan.

"We mix our YMO activator with collected biodegradable waste to treat them together. By doing this, we hasten the composting of biodegradable waste and eliminate hazardous waste such as leachate from contaminating the environment," explained Lumpay.

Biodegradables are converted into biofertilizers within 45 days, and the reaction of the food waste to the bio activator heats the mixture to a high temperature which destroys pathogenic bacteria, making their fertilizer organic, clean, and safe.

Currently, Davao Thermo Biotech collects industrial waste from several poultry farms and restaurants. They treat 50MT of industry and food waste daily.

They also have a few household subscribers, and the technology can also be adapted at a household level, but the problem is not a lot of homes are willing to pay to have their garbage collected and treated so they don't end up in landfills.

"As of now, we have 55 households subscribed to our waste management facility. We pick up their biodegradable waste for them, and in exchange, we give them one of our products which they can use for their gardens at home," said Lumpay.

Banta said that the projects of Limadol and Davao Thermo Biotech prove that there are already working zero-waste solutions that are less harmful to the environment being implemented.

"Instead of using people's money to fund environmentally destructive projects, the government should instead invest in solutions that are already in place," said Banta.

"The projects of Limadol and Davao Thermo Biotech need not have huge large facilities, and if these are implemented on a large scale, then there would not even be a need to construct WTE facilities," added Banta.

The Plastic-Free Pilipinas Project regional coordinator also emphasized that while these initiatives work for biodegradable wastes, the problem of non-biodegradable waste can be addressed by strict implementation of banning single-use plastics and pressuring corporations to replace their packaging.

Corporations should invest in solutions that are centered on reuse-based packaging such as refillable. They can show this by not relying on false "green" solutions but committing to establishing sustainable systems.

Banta also said that before the sachet economy reached the Philippines, Filipino communities already had a culture of refilling in sari-sari stores, but because of the shift in packaging by fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies, this changed.

"Didn't we have that deposit system for carbonated drinks in glass bottles before? It was even practiced in far-flung rural communities. We can enforce zero-waste solutions, but corporations and lawmakers lack the will," said Banta.

Seventy-two percent of the 2022 national budget for solid waste management will be dedicated to the WTE of Davao.

"That's too much of a budget for a regional project that is environmentally destructive. Imagine if we reallocate our budget and invest in low-cost zero-waste solutions that are already in place," said Banta.

She also stressed that a large part of the money could have also been used for training waste workers in zero-waste projects, giving them the proper solid waste management training, and increasing their salaries and benefits.

"Waste management plays a large role in the climate crisis because the life cycle of a product or waste is already producing carbon emissions, which is why just energy transition also means hiring more waste workers, integrating waste workers in zero-waste projects, and institutionalizing their work," said Banta.

Role of waste pickers in the climate crisis

Back in New Carmen, Romero said that while he isn't familiar with climate change, he's sure that their work as waste pickers contributes to addressing the waste problem.

"I'm not sure about numbers, but perhaps, waste pickers like me address climate change by 50% because we recycle everything that we could find," said Romero.

Beyond the destructive environmental repercussions of the WTE project, Banta and Ledesma are also concerned about the consequences to workers in the formal and informal waste industry.

"We already have people doing the waste picking and the recycling, and there are also groups who upcycle, recycle, and compost. What will happen to them when this project is given a go signal?" asked Banta.

Romero said that instead of removing them from their livelihood, the local government can show their appreciation by providing them the support that they need to continue doing their livelihood.

"We aren't protected from our jobs, we go to work without proper equipment, we even step our bare feet on broken glass just so we could find a living, but still we can recycle a relevant amount of waste without much help," he said.

"What we need is an aid in terms of food, shelter, and even medicine because we earn so little, so that we may continue working," added Romero.

Romero recalled that their measly income isn't even enough for his family to afford electricity. But at least he finds disposed candles in the landfill which they recycle and lights at night.

"Sometimes we even find broken solar panels in the landfill. We fix them, and they give our homes power and electricity," said Romero.

Ledesma said that waste pickers are knowledgeable of the integrity of materials found in disposal sites, that's why they should play a significant role in redesigning systems.

"Without us, nobody would dare touch our wastes. And if we're displaced of our livelihood, you're also removing hands directly reversing climate change," said Romero.
*Names were changed to protect identities
This story was supported by Climate Tracker and FES Philippines

Geela Garcia is a freelance multimedia journalist and peasant advocate based in Manila.

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Davao City waste-to-energy project to fuel climate change, groups warn

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Davao City generates around 900 tons of garbage per day, and waste pickers like Romero find a living by recycling the dumpsite's overflowing waste.