BAGUIO CITY – The City Council approved on first reading a proposed ordinance requiring all business within the city to submit environmental action plans upon securing or renewing their business or mayor’s permit and providing penalties for violators.
The ordinance authored by Councilor Leandro B. Yangot, Jr. stated that it shall be the policy of the local government to preserve and protect the source of life, and to focus on sustainable development in the fulfillment of human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environment for the current generation and for the generations yet to come.
Further, the local government adopts the principle of protecting the climate system for the benefit of the people of the city and it shall be the policy of the city to enjoin the participation of all its inhabitants and the business sector to prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts of climate change.
The ordinance will mandate the City Environment and Parks Management Office to strengthen, integrate, consolidate and institutionalize environment initiatives to achieve coordination in the implementation of plans and programs to address climate change and preservation and protection of the sources of life in various phases of policy formulation, development plans and poverty reduction strategies, through participatory, transparent engagement and granting of incentives to stakeholders, including barangays committed to energy-efficient buildings, transportation and resources conservation.
Yangot explained the ordinance shall apply to all natural or juridical entities, operating or doing business in the city, securing or renewing business licenses or mayor’s permit.
He argued the local government’s mission is to protect, preserve, conserve, and restore the quality of the city’s sources of life and to mitigate the adverse impact of global warming and climate change while fostering smart growth and economic development for the benefit of the present and future generations.
Yangot claimed the environmental sustainable action plans of businesses shall focus on land, air, water, waste management, energy conservation, and information and education campaign.
The applicants shall secure the sustainability action plan forms available at the City Environment and Parks Management Office and the same shall be submitted after the completion of the form.
Yangot underscored the city’s business sector plays an important role in boosting the economy, not only because it provides the city different business opportunities. but also because it generates employment for its residents.
In the quest to see the city attain economic stability, he claimed it is overlooked that the sources of life, the trees, soil, and water, which are the basic foundation of existence have already reached their limit and to ensure environmental sustainability, balance is required between the ecological system and economic development, thus, there is a dire need to prepare programs to heal the ailing earth by encouraging the business sector to create sustainable programs for the protection and preservation of the sources of life, minimizing the effects of global warming and climate change and programs that are less harmful to the ecosystem. By Dexter A. See