BABY GOMEZ
Online news contributor
DAVAO CITY: THE Council of Philippine Clean Cities Coalitions (CPCCC) meets this week at the Megrande Ocean Resort for its annual planning review 2008 and election of its new set of officers.
Ricarte Mamparo, Clean Cities Davao Coalition, Inc. president and chair said about twenty council officers from the cities of Baguio, Marikina, Makati, Iloilo and Davao together with officers of the Sustainable Energy Development Program (SEDP) will review their respective work plans as the clean cities coalition organizations gear for 2008.
Mamparo stressed sustaining the program is the most important agenda as the advocates organization is voluntary in nature. Each member envisions a clean city free from all forms of pollution.
Pushing the use of alternative fuels as its battle cry is no mean job. Despite the passage of the Bio Fuels Law last year the public is not fully aware of the law, hence, the need for a sustained campaign on the use alternative fuels, he added.
The deterioration of air quality in the country is an important concern to be addressed by the government. The campaign on the use of indigenous, clean and renewable energy supply for the transport sector of the Department of Energy (DoE) has gained the support of the United States Assistance for International Development (USAID) thru its Sustainable Energy Development Program (SEDP)
SEDP has thus so far reached out to five concerned cities, namely Makati, Baguio, Marikina, Davao and Iloilo.
Participants to the planning review activity are the following: Baguio City, Clean Citiies Baguio Coalition (CCBCI) – Albert Della; Raymond Ruaro, Perfecto Itliong, Jr. and Wilma Lagunilla; Davao City, Clean Cities Davao Coalition, Inc. (CCDCI) – Ricarte mamparo, Virgilio Sangutan, Rex Labadia, Sam Abrenilla, & Barangay Captain Ed Fuentes; Makati City, Clean Cities Makati Coalition, Inc. (CCMCI) – Juancho Sta. Ana, Danilo Villas, Bien Baniqued, Ricardo Suarez & Adel Licos; Marikina City, (MCFCC) – Lauro de Guzman, Bernard Mendoza, Deanne de Jesus, and, Warren Douglas Sira; and, Iloilo City (CCCITF), Noel Hechanova, Coun. Jose Espinosa III, Coun. Ely Estante, Engr. Jose Renan Escoto, and Nestor Divinagracia.
Just two years old this month, the Clean Cities Davao CoaIition, Inc. has so far accomplished series of advocacy activities including participation during the Kadayawan sa Dabaw 2006, Araw ng Dabaw 2007; Limpiyong Emisyon, Likay sa Polusyon activities in May & June 2007; hosting of the final leg of the 1st National Bio-Fuels Caravan in February 2007, and other inter-agency linkages.
Mamparo said most activities were implemented on its own and mostly coming from its friends and environment-friendly benefactors.
The highlight of this year’s meeting will be the election of its new set of officers of the Council of the Philippine Clean Cities Coalition (CPCCC).