• 10 SEP 2019 DANA VIGRAN

Pasig City, in the heart of Metro Manila, is taking an inclusive approach to driving climate action at the local level. Along with eight other Southeast Asian cities, Pasig City is working with ICLEI to develop and deploy bottom-up models of climate action planning through the Ambitious City Promises project.

The city has embarked on a robust consultation process with key stakeholders to increase community ownership of climate action and raise ambition at all levels. Over the course of the project so far, over 250 residents and stakeholders have participated in workshops and discussions hosted by the city that are the first step towards a broader movement of locally led action.

Local officials in Pasig know that climate action should be participatory and inclusive and encourages residents from all walks of life, regardless of age, gender, and social status, to take an active part in creating a vibrant, bustling, progressive, eco-city. Pasig City is already running a variety of sustainability initiatives that focus on solid waste management, urban gardening and inclusive urban planning.

Each of these initiatives encourage diverse residents to engage to create a green city together.

Solid waste management is a deep concern for Pasigueños and the city has committed to a 10-year plan to reduce their waste generation by 20 percent by 2025. The city is actively working together with stakeholders to support all residences in complying with local ordinances on waste management processes such as proper segregation of waste, adhering to the waste collection schedule, and disposing of waste in designated spaces.

With the aim of raising awareness, educating youth on sustainability and incentivizing recycling, Pasig City has started the Greenheart Savers Program which is currently active across 32 public schools in the city. This initiative teaches the value of recycling by encouraging students to bring non-biodegradable waste to school in exchange for rewards.

Pasigueños are also committed to making their city clean, green, and healthy. All 30 barangays – or villages – have dedicated spaces for community-based urban gardens. Based on the interest expressed by residents at the Ambitious City Promises public consultations, the city is continuously offering capacity building activities on urban gardening, organic composting, waste segregation, and similar topics to offer communities.

Pasig City is also working to improve mobility options in order to make sure the city is inclusive, serving the needs of women and children, the elderly and disabled, as well as daily commuters.
This means working towards low carbon transportation solutions such as increased active mobility. Pasig City has committed to build elevated walkways in the business district and expand bike lanes throughout the city. They are also expanding their popular Carless Weekends Program and are supporting the Pasig Green Bike Share Program to encourage cycling in the city.

To promote participation and engagement from communities and stakeholders, the city’s feedback mechanism is being improved to ensure that all issues and concerns of the stakeholders are being heard. Currently, Pasig hosts the weekly Peoples’ Day every Tuesday and Thursday where all residents of Pasig City are invited to the City Hall to provide comments, insights, complaints, and suggestions to the local officials.

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Learn more about Pasig City’s commitment towards low emission development.

Source: https://talkofthecities.iclei.org/pasig-city-philippines-demonstrates-the-benefits-of-inclusive-climate-action/