Manila Bulletin, Philippines : Obscure Samar town wins prestigious international environmental award

06/11/2003

Obscure Samar town wins prestigious international environmental award

Elinando B. Cinco

CALBIGA, an obscure interior town in Western Samar of 20,000 inhabitants, is now the center of the international environmental map. It has won the much-coveted Bursary Award, a worldwide contest last October 6 in Apeldoorn, The Netherlands.

The achievement is a category of the prestigious nations in Bloom international competition that focuses on good environmental management and the creation of livable communities.

It is the only global contest that takes cognizance of the major issue of time-management of the environment. The objectives of the nations in Bloom are:

1. To improve the quality of life through the creation of livable communities.

2. To exchange good practices relating to the management of the environment.

3. To encourage new initiatives.

It is endorsed by the United Nations Environment Programme. More than 50 countries are involved in the annual search.

This year saw some 236 entries in five categories. The entries were narrowed down to only 25 finalists.

What clinched the award for the highway town of Calbiga the Bursary Award was its lucid presentation on initiatives in the areas of environmental enhancement, protection and preservation, and its anti-mining advocacy.

Calbiga Mayor Melchor F. Nacario received the award amidst standing ovation from a predominantly European audience at the Hetloo Palace. He was accompanied by his wife, Luzviminda Nacario, an official of the DILG, and Osmund Orlanes, a leader of Samarnons residing in Manila who heads Currents Foundation.

The citation for Calbiga reads in part: “The community that is to receive this award has faced an amazing challenge that typifies some of the critical factors facing communities that are rich in natural resources but have weaker economies… also has banned mining in its land against great commercial pressures… The project that this community wishes to initiate is in an area that will interpret the local biodiversity towards creating a play space for children, so essential in the modern day.”

Alan Smith, NIB executive director, read the statement.

One of its proposed projects is a Nature Park, a component of SPARK, an acronym for the town’s Small Enterprise Park.

Mayor Nacario is also the national executive vice president for external affairs of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines. In a statement after the awarding ceremonies, he says:

“We dedicate this award to the people of Calbiga and the province of Samar, and the country.”

Philippine Ambassador to The Netherlands Romeo A. Arguelles, Dads Dabuet of the Philippine Embassy, and Samarnon and long time Amsterdam resident Nonoi Hacbang and wife Brid, and the Filipino community in the Dutch country witnessed the occasion.

For obvious reasons, Joop Van Hezik and wife Rianne Pijnenburg were also the happiest. The couple nominated Calbiga in the Nations in Bloom competition.

Apeldoorn Mayor Fred de Graaf personally congratulated the Philippine delegation after the awarding rites.

During the much applauded presentation, Mayor Nacario explained his goal of engendering “a better understanding and show a broader definition of how a community relates to issues of poverty and wealth.”

“To us, wealth does not just mean tall buildings and smart coats. We work with the rhythms of nature,” he stresses.

The town executive also advanced the notion that a sustainable community can exist even in relative poverty. Calbiga has established partnership with neighboring towns in Samar to pool doable ideas.

Nations in Bloom was first launched in 1997. Since then some 50 countries are actively involved. Venue of the awards and final screening of competitors changes yearly. Next year it will be in Ontario, Canada.