PLANNING WORKSHOP. Xavier University's Governance and Leadership Institute director Dr Dixon Yasay (in black polo shirt) serves as main facilitator during the planning workshop of the Balingasag Ecological Solid Waste Management Board. Supplied photo.  

By Wilson J Hormeguera

The Governance and Leadership Institute of Xavier University facilitated the planning workshop for the Ecological Solid Waste Management Board of the local government of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental on September 5-6 at Chali Beach Resort, Cugman, Cagayan de Oro City.

The board (composed of executive department heads, local legislators, and civil society leader) envisions Balingasag to be “a disciplined, clean, and healthy municipality by 2019.”

To achieve this vision, the group have identified four priority goals: better management, strengthening barangay governance, improving solid waste management behaviour from the household level, and law enforcement.

Elvisa Mabelin, ESWM focal person of Cagayan de Oro City government, shared during the workshop the CDO experience on Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS). The Balingasag ESWM board decided to also conduct WACS in their municipality, following ESWM CDO’s success.

“Balingasag has grown and the challenge to properly manage solid waste has grown as well,” said Mayor Marrietta Abogado. “This ESWM plan shall be a priority of my administration.”∎