Metropolitan Arrangements - Philippine Institute for Development ...

Environmentand Natural ResourcesManagement 87
Figure 3. Eco-WalkProgram Essentials
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Source: Various Galing Pook documents (1995).
The active participation of school children (about 15,000 grade
schoolers as of 1995) has reforestated the Busol watershed with about
25,000 tree seedlings. It has reaped socioeconomic benefits. It
minimized squatting, logging and forest fires. Because the children
initiated the maintenance of the watershed, there were no forest
guards needed. This spelt considerable savings to the government in
terms of maintenance and security expenses. Most important is the
unquantifiable benefits of the eco-walk experience to the children,
especially on their present and future regard for the environment.
Olongapo City: Solid Waste Management
Olongapo City is one of the pioneer innovators in local
governance, particularly with regard to solid waste management
(SWM). As in most cities, Olongapo has faced garbage management
problems--i.e., irresponsible disposal of waste and a disorganized
collection system. Part of the problem was the lack of financial
resources to put up an efficient system since the cost of available
technology and system was beyond the city's financial capacity.
Given its meager resources, the city government introduced an
innovative program on garbage management. Tile program rests on