Bohol Leads the Way on Resource Management Through ecoBUDGET
According to the Lord Mayor of Bologna, Sergio Cofferati, "There are today two opposing ways regarding development. The first sees financial profit as the only criterion with which to measure success. The second, considers development to be profoundly linked to such essential aspects as the personal dignity of the worker, public health and the conservation of natural resources. I believe that ecoBUDGET is a tool that can be used by cities aiming to respect this second concept of development."
This coming October 15-16, 2007, The Municipality of Tubigon, Province of Bohol bares witness to the conclusion of a three-year program, ecoBUDGET-Asia: Implementing ecoBUDGET in Asian Local Governments. With the Final Confrence theme, ecoBUDGET: An Instrument to Good Local Resource Management and Governance, representatives from 4 cities (Bologna, Italy, Vaxjo, Sweden, Guntur, India, and Tubigon, Bohol, Philippines will converge in Bohol Beach Club where they will be sharing their experiences and learnings.
The Local Government of Bohol, invites more than 80 participants coming from funding agencies, local and international program partners, and local government units to attend the two-day activity. Focusing on the partnership milestones, experience, accomplishments, lessons, and impacts on the use of the ecoBUDGET instrument, the final conference envisions the possible replication of the environmental management system to other local governments not only in the Philippines but in Asia.
“EcoBUDGET-Asia: Implementing ecoBUDGET in Asian Local Governments” is an international co-operation and capacity-building project co-funded by the European Union within the Asia-Urbs programme and co-ordinated by the Environment and Green Areas Department of the Municipality of Bologna (Italy). Focused on improving environmental and urban management capacities and local governance, it involves two European Municipalities (Bologna and Växjö) and two Asian local governments (Guntur Municipal Corporation and Provincial Government of Bohol), which are assisted by the technical experts of the ICLEI’s European, South Asian and Southeast Asian Secretariats.
For more information regarding the event, you may contact ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability Southeast Asia Secretariat , Manila Observatory, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines with Tel# +63 2 4260851, 4265921 loc. 112, Fax # +63 2 4260851.
This coming October 15-16, 2007, The Municipality of Tubigon, Province of Bohol bares witness to the conclusion of a three-year program, ecoBUDGET-Asia: Implementing ecoBUDGET in Asian Local Governments. With the Final Confrence theme, ecoBUDGET: An Instrument to Good Local Resource Management and Governance, representatives from 4 cities (Bologna, Italy, Vaxjo, Sweden, Guntur, India, and Tubigon, Bohol, Philippines will converge in Bohol Beach Club where they will be sharing their experiences and learnings.
The Local Government of Bohol, invites more than 80 participants coming from funding agencies, local and international program partners, and local government units to attend the two-day activity. Focusing on the partnership milestones, experience, accomplishments, lessons, and impacts on the use of the ecoBUDGET instrument, the final conference envisions the possible replication of the environmental management system to other local governments not only in the Philippines but in Asia.
“EcoBUDGET-Asia: Implementing ecoBUDGET in Asian Local Governments” is an international co-operation and capacity-building project co-funded by the European Union within the Asia-Urbs programme and co-ordinated by the Environment and Green Areas Department of the Municipality of Bologna (Italy). Focused on improving environmental and urban management capacities and local governance, it involves two European Municipalities (Bologna and Växjö) and two Asian local governments (Guntur Municipal Corporation and Provincial Government of Bohol), which are assisted by the technical experts of the ICLEI’s European, South Asian and Southeast Asian Secretariats.
For more information regarding the event, you may contact ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability Southeast Asia Secretariat , Manila Observatory, Ateneo de Manila University, Loyola Heights, Quezon City, 1101, Philippines with Tel# +63 2 4260851, 4265921 loc. 112, Fax # +63 2 4260851.
Guntur Hosts ecoBUDGET-Asia 3rd Partners' Meeting
ecoBUDGET-Asia Project Partners (Bologna, Italy; Bohol, Philipines; Vaxjo, Sweden) and ICLEI staff (Europe, South Asia and Southeast Asia) recently flocked to the fascinating and culturally-diverse country of India last September 25-30, 2006 for the 3rd Partners' Meeting hosted by another project partner, the Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC).
The main goals of the Partners' Meeting (which had all been met) were to verify the progress of the partners in implementing the ecoBUDGET; review the Environmental Master Budgets of both Guntur and Tubigon (Bohol’s pilot municipality); discuss project management issues, and; carry on the initial preparation of an Asian version of the ecoBUDGET manual.
GMC showcased their targets, as well as on-going and planned measures relevant to their Environmental Master Budget. Their priority areas are water quality and quantity, waste management, urban greening and air quality. During the city tour, Bologna delegates (who had been in Guntur twice previously) were impressed with the great improvements particularly on street maintenance (i.e. cleanliness, structures, organization of hawkers).
Atty. Juanito Cambangay (the Local Project Manager), Engr. Noel Mendana (Municipal Planning & Development Officer & Teamleader of the Local Implementing Team) and Mr. Marlon Amila, (elected councillor & member of the Local Implementing Team) represented Bohol. Tubigon highlighted their on-going measures. For several indicators, like in the case of accounting for non-revenue water and no. of households segregating their waste, Tubigon has exceeded their targets.
The workshop was also an opportunity for partners to compare and contrast administrative/political systems, environmental issues and community response.
ICLEI Europe launched an online resource center (www.ecobudget-asia.net) which provides a lot of information on the ecoBUDGET and has a reserved section exclusively for the use of ecoBUDGET Asia participants.
To learn more about the ecoBUDGET-Asia, please visit the above website.
The main goals of the Partners' Meeting (which had all been met) were to verify the progress of the partners in implementing the ecoBUDGET; review the Environmental Master Budgets of both Guntur and Tubigon (Bohol’s pilot municipality); discuss project management issues, and; carry on the initial preparation of an Asian version of the ecoBUDGET manual.
GMC showcased their targets, as well as on-going and planned measures relevant to their Environmental Master Budget. Their priority areas are water quality and quantity, waste management, urban greening and air quality. During the city tour, Bologna delegates (who had been in Guntur twice previously) were impressed with the great improvements particularly on street maintenance (i.e. cleanliness, structures, organization of hawkers).
Atty. Juanito Cambangay (the Local Project Manager), Engr. Noel Mendana (Municipal Planning & Development Officer & Teamleader of the Local Implementing Team) and Mr. Marlon Amila, (elected councillor & member of the Local Implementing Team) represented Bohol. Tubigon highlighted their on-going measures. For several indicators, like in the case of accounting for non-revenue water and no. of households segregating their waste, Tubigon has exceeded their targets.
The workshop was also an opportunity for partners to compare and contrast administrative/political systems, environmental issues and community response.
ICLEI Europe launched an online resource center (www.ecobudget-asia.net) which provides a lot of information on the ecoBUDGET and has a reserved section exclusively for the use of ecoBUDGET Asia participants.
To learn more about the ecoBUDGET-Asia, please visit the above website.
Bohol's ecoBUDGET Experience Shared at the 3rd GEF Assembly
ICLEI SEA, together with ICLEI Senior Advisor (Prof. Johan Nel), ICLEI South Asia (Mr. Anurag Mishra) and Bologna Municipality (Cllr. Paolo Natali), disseminated the experiences of European and Asian ecoBUDGET cities in a side event at the 3rd Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly held in Cape Town, South Africa from 27-30 August 2006. The side event lobbied for ecoBUDGET and its wider applications by soliciting the attention of GEF and other assembly participants about the need to fund projects that support the capacity-building for cross-cutting issues.
In behalf of the Province of Bohol and Tubigon Municipality (Philippines), Joy Bailey (ecoBUDGET Assistant Project Coordinator) shared the ecoBUDGET experience of the two local authorities, particularly focusing on the link between poverty alleviation and ecoBUDGET as an environmental management system (EMS) tool.
The GEF Assembly is held every four years and gathers ministers and high-level officials from GEF member States and the 3 implementing agencies (UNDP, UNEP, World Bank) to review the policies and operations of the GEF.
For more information about the ecoBUDGET, please visit www.ecobudget.com.
In behalf of the Province of Bohol and Tubigon Municipality (Philippines), Joy Bailey (ecoBUDGET Assistant Project Coordinator) shared the ecoBUDGET experience of the two local authorities, particularly focusing on the link between poverty alleviation and ecoBUDGET as an environmental management system (EMS) tool.
The GEF Assembly is held every four years and gathers ministers and high-level officials from GEF member States and the 3 implementing agencies (UNDP, UNEP, World Bank) to review the policies and operations of the GEF.
For more information about the ecoBUDGET, please visit www.ecobudget.com.
Vaxjo Experts Assist in Refining ecoBUDGET Measures of Tubigon and Bohol (Philippines)
Bohol’s ecoBUDGET Asia Project partner city, Vaxjo (Sweden), sent 3 of its technical experts to assist the province and the Municipality of Tubigon (the pilot site) in refining the indicators and activities for the priority environmental issues (potable water supply, solid waste disposal, marine forest and habitat, terrestrial forest, siltation and improving local governance).
A detailed workprogram was produced by the Local Implementation Team, with assistance from ICLEI SEA, last February 2006. Currently on the Implementation Phase of the ecoBUDGET cycle, Tubigon has started implementing the measures (Step 5) and monitoring and accounting (Step 6).
Franzen Anders (City Planner), Jan Everling (water specialist) and Julia Ahlrot (waste specialist) gave presentations on the practices/initiatives in Vaxjo and commented on Tubigon’s ecoBUDGET workprogram. The Tubigon/Bohol Local Implementation Team took note as to which practices and strategies could be adapted and which departments should take the lead.
Groundwork activities for the replication of ecoBUDGET at the provincial level (with special focus on water) are also now underway.
Mr Anders and Atty. Juanito Cambangay (Bohol Local Project Manager) also shared the outcomes of ecoBUDGET meetings at the ICLEI World Congress in South Africa last 27Feb-3March.
A detailed workprogram was produced by the Local Implementation Team, with assistance from ICLEI SEA, last February 2006. Currently on the Implementation Phase of the ecoBUDGET cycle, Tubigon has started implementing the measures (Step 5) and monitoring and accounting (Step 6).
Franzen Anders (City Planner), Jan Everling (water specialist) and Julia Ahlrot (waste specialist) gave presentations on the practices/initiatives in Vaxjo and commented on Tubigon’s ecoBUDGET workprogram. The Tubigon/Bohol Local Implementation Team took note as to which practices and strategies could be adapted and which departments should take the lead.
Groundwork activities for the replication of ecoBUDGET at the provincial level (with special focus on water) are also now underway.
Mr Anders and Atty. Juanito Cambangay (Bohol Local Project Manager) also shared the outcomes of ecoBUDGET meetings at the ICLEI World Congress in South Africa last 27Feb-3March.
