A boost for the environment – while at the same time providing women with livelihood opportunities.
That was how the city government of San Pedro City, Laguna viewed the recent partnership it forged with non-profit organization SmartCT for the implementation of a pioneering program aimed at solving the issue of electronic waste in San Pedro City.
Last August 11, Mayor Art Mercado and SmartCT officials led by executive director Kristel Anne Villanueva-Libunao signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for the implementation of the Climate Smart Cities - E-waste Ready Project.
“The project is a two-phased pilot program that aims to empower women in the informal e-waste sector with certified green-job skills, create safe, gender-responsive e-waste collection and recycling pathways, reduce hazardous exposure to toxins, generate reliable data to inform the forthcoming National E-Waste Policy, and raise the country's e-waste recycling rate while strengthening the environmentally safe and sound e-waste management,” Mercado said in a social media statement.
The city government of San Pedro is the first local government unit (LGU) in the Philippines to partner with SmartCT for this program.
E-waste management
According to officials of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), the new partnership comes on top of current programs aimed at curbing the growing problem of e-waste in San Pedro City.
“Kabilang dito ang paglalagay ng mga e-waste bins na magsisilbing imbakan ng mga sirang electronic devices at iba pang uri ng e-waste. Isinasagawa rin ng Lungsod ang Intensive Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Campaign sa mga barangay, paaralan, at iba pang organisasyon sa lungsod upang maipabatid sa publiko ang kahalagahan ng wastong pamamahala at pagtatapon ng e-waste,” officials told OpinYon Laguna.
CENRO has also conducted training for Barangay Volunteer Workers, from July 22 to 25, where 15 women Barangay Volunteer Workers were trained on proper e-Waste management.
“Makikipag-ugnayan ang Lungsod sa bawat barangay upang maipabatid ang mga nilalaman at layunin ng nasabing kasunduan. Layunin nitong mabigyan ang mga barangay ng sapat na kaalaman tungkol sa mga posibleng partnership sa iba’t ibang organisasyon at pribadong kumpanya na maaaring magbigay ng mga livelihood program para sa mga kababaihan sa kanilang lugar.”
For the city government, this project goes beyond sustainable development and gender empowerment.
“Sa pamamagitan nito, mabibigyan ang mga kababaihan at iba pang miyembro ng komunidad ng pagkakataong magkaroon ng bagong kaalaman, kasanayan, at kabuhayan, habang sama-samang isinusulong ang isang mas responsable, inklusibo, at makakalikasang pamamahala ng electronic waste,” CENRO added.
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