DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 26 February) — A Davao City-based environmental group urged residents to elect leaders in May 2022 elections who can champion environmental protection amid the growing concerns on climate crisis.
Atty. Atty.
He stated that we need someone who is willing to stand up and defend environmental rights, even if they are not popular. Someone who understands and values inclusion in policy making and decision making.
He stated that IDIS launched the Green Vote 2022 Survey in order to help Dabawenyos select who among the candidates has a clear and significant platform to address environmental problems, including climate change, flooding and increasing urban heat, reclamation and urban wetlands, deforestation and waste management.
The survey forms will be forwarded to all candidates running for elective posts in the executive and legislative branches: mayor, vice mayor, representatives, and councilors to know where they stand on issues involving watershed protection, solid waste management and zero waste lifestyle, urban livability, good agricultural practices, sustainable/clean energy, and policy bottlenecks and good governance, according to a briefer released by IDIS.
It will also highlight the candidates platforms on environmental management and their views and decisions on various environmental issues as well as their stand on halting the cutting of old-growth trees at declared conservation zones such as in Mt. Kalatong and Makabol-Alikoson, the rising wastes and pollution of sanitary landfills, the proposed waste-to-energy plant, resumption aerial and chemical-based sprinkling in mono-crop plantsations, quarrying, and extraction of resources, as well as the Samal-Davao Bridge, and other large infrastructure projects that could have an impact on the environment.
It stated that IDIS aims to release the results of the survey by April 2022.
He said that Green Vote will give the electorate an idea of who among these candidates will lead them in a transformation of urban life that is sensitive to the needs and not detrimental to the environment or future Dabawenyos.
Pealver stated that it was important for candidates to include climate crisis and environmental protection in their agendas, as the city has been the most affected by climate change in recent decades.
He launched the Green Vote in 2019 and stated that it would help Dabawenyos to know the environmental platforms the candidates have, as these candidates will be responsible to take us out of and protect us from the dangers posed by climate change.
He stated that Dabawenyos was influenced by the Green Vote in Electing Leaders in 2019, who lobbied to regulate recreational activities in watershed areas and for environmental ordinances such a No to Single-Use Plastics Ordinance, Save Heritage Trees Ordinance, or Regulation of Recreational Activities in Watershed Areas.
There are still some concerns. We can’t say that they are all pro-environment, as there are some issues they don’t have a clear position on or, if they do, they are not for the environment. (Antonio L. Colina IV / MindaNews)
