Panaghisgutanay MindaNOW: A Discussion for a Better and Cleaner Davao City

The Mindnaoan Youth Development Center. Inc (MDYC), a non-governmental and non-profit organization born in Davao City, has been part of the city’s endeavor in creating programs that encourage young people to engage in various dialogues in attainment of their personal growth and strengthening self-identity as young people of Mindanao who are rich in values and cultural diversity that maintain its harmony of living.

MDYC is headed by youth leaders from different facets of life and professions. This year, the organization embarks on another remarkable journey that will not only involve the young people, but all the citizens of Davao. Last February 28, 2015, the MDYC convened the different leaders and representatives of the different sectors in Davao through a round-table discussion dubbed as “Panaghisgutanay MindaNOW” held at the Ateneo de Davao University.

Businessmen, educators, government officers, and journalists were around for one goal to animate a movement which started in Estonia in 2008 and entitled as “Let’s Do It!” The said movement aims to organize series of activities that will help reduce waste in the city and strengthen the advocacy by conducting activities that will lead people to become more responsible in doing the proper solid waste management.

The MDYC is headed by Mr. Prime Nover Deles and Mr. Kenny Lloyd Angon, a public school teacher and the Regional Convenor for Davao the Lets Do It Philippines Movement. During the meeting, Engr. Elisa Madrazo, officer of the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) gave a report about the current status of the Solid Waste Management here in Davao City and raised also concerns that seeks the role of the people in supporting the CENRO’s program and how LDI can possibly help their sector in making city as one of the “cleanest and livable city” in Philippines and in Asia.

To further explain and encourage the attendees to animate the movement, representatives who successfully conducted the LDI movement in their respective cities were also around and gave their testimonies about how they organized the mass movement. Mr. Czaldy Garote, Regional Convenor for Davao Del Sur LDI Philippines and Mr. Mark Gennesis Dela Cerna, Regional Convenor for Kidapawan, reported their experiences in the meeting. After the inputs, the sectoral representatives were grouped and participated in the workshop on LDI Davao Action Planning and reported their plans after.

Various plans and suggestions were raised by the different sectors in making the LDI Davao possible and were positively accepted by the others. Series of meetings will be held on the following weeks and months to further the plans and partnerships. The target date of the Let’s Do It Davao Zero Waste Program Day is on September this year. (Jecy Opada)