Sustainable Initiatives Led by Local Experts

DLSU-COSCA’s Partner Communities and Other Stakeholders Pilot test EM Mud Balls Technology to Help Improve Water Quality of  Nearby Esteros

      De La Salle  University’s (DLSU) efforts to participate in rehabilitating  its  nearby estero is one of its priority  contributions to  risk reduction and  climate change adaptation.  This initiative is a relevant cog of the Lasallian Environmental Sustainability and  Governance Component (L-ENVisage) of  DLSU’s UN Sustainable Development  Goals (SDG) Localization Project formally launched  on August 19, 2016.

     DLSU’s Center  for  Social Concern and Action (COSCA)  recognizes the  important  role that  esteros ( as contributory  streams to larger  waterways) play in the area of environment  such  as  in flood protection, pollutant filtering and  in ensuring  continuous water flow to  surface, among  others.  As a strategy, COSCA has partnered with seven pilot barangays in Leveriza, District V, Manila and with other stakeholders, concerned government  agencies (and  private institutions for resource  and  capacity building  requirements to  rehabilitate  and  respond  to the following identified concerns on both Estero Fort San Antonio De Abad and Estero de Maytubig: a) limited resource for general maintenance and discharge monitoring; b) poor solid waste management implementation; c) enforcement of relevant laws at both City and Barangay levels is  wanting; d) observed encroachment by formal and informal settlers; and e) noted general degree of neglect.   

      Also, DLSU formalized  partnership on August 20, 2016 with the Manila Bay S.U.N.S.E.T Partnership Program, Inc. (MBSPPI), a partnership  of  twenty-one (21) government and  private institutions committed  to protect and  clean-up the  coastal  area of Manila Bay, including its  tributaries and other  related  activities. Together with DLSU, are the following new members of the to the  Partnership:  1) the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB)-National Capital Region (NCR) Office, 2) Department of Public Works and Highways –NCR Office, 3) Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and 4) Villar Sipag at Tiyaga Foundation, Inc.    

      MBSPPI and LBP supported the Effective Microorganisms (EM)  Mudballs Technology workshop facilitated by Earth Venture, Inc.on September 17, 2016 aimed at improving the  water  quality  of Estero de San Antonio de Abad.  The said EM mudball dropping is  a pilot activity on the use  of  the EM technology on the two waterways.  Prior  to the mudball  workshop,  COSCA’s Ms. Terteen Omana, Development Specialist for  SDG- L-ENVisage facilitated  the  orientation of barangay  representatives  on   EM  Technology, Estero Rehabilitation  initiative  and  Climate  Change.   

       The EM  technology  utilizes  naturally occurring microorganisms which  are able to purify and revive nature.  It makes  use  of  effective microorganism activated solution (EMAS) in enhancing  and improving  water  quality thereby restoring  aquatic habitats and ecosystems.

       The  EM  Mudball making workshop and dropping activity was conducted to create an awareness among  community members of the EM technology as  a step to help improve  the  water  quality of the esteros.  The said activity was participated  by 18 DLSU-COSCA  Alternative  Learning  System (ALS) students, three (3) representatives from Barangays 720, 718 and  717, five (5) service personnel  from  DLSU, 15 trainer-facilitators  from Earth Ventures, Inc., 6  representatives  from the LBP, and  6 COSCA  personnel .     

 Advancing Advocacy  on  Disaster  Preparedness through the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Program

      Further in advancing  COSCA’s advocacy  on  disaster  preparedness, DLSU through COSCA   partnered with the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, the University of the Philippines and the Ateneo de Manila University  for the ASEAN Youth Volunteer Programme (AYVP). The AYVP is a youth community leadership program mobilizing  volunteers aged 18 to 30 from across the 10 ASEAN member states and works with communities to develop innovative solutions to the social, cultural, economic and environmental challenges of the region while forging a sense of ASEAN identity.   The AYVP tapped local experts on disaster preparedness and  management such as the    Buklod Tao, Inc.  and Simbahan Lingkod ng Bayan. Twenty-five (25) ASEAN youth leaders completed a  month-long volunteer program on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).  DRR leaders were deployed in local communities implementing DRR programs. Twenty-five (25) of these participants were assigned to Buklod Tao’s Community-Based DRR Management Project along the vulnerable areas of  Banaba River (tributary of the Marikina River) San Mateo, Rizal.  Also, the student volunteers participated in various activities including community hazard mapping, ASEAN awareness orientation, soil composting, paddle making, development and posting of emergency preparedness materials, among others.