DAVAO CITY – A delegation from the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos), Davao del Norte, toured Mati City, Davao Oriental, on Thursday, August 24, to assess the city government's environmental initiatives.
Igacos Environment and Natural Resources Office (CiENRO) office-in-charge Iryshell Villegas, Development Management officer Nelson Aquino, and the staff representing Mayor Al David Uy toured the city.
According to the Mati City Information Office, the Igacos had shown interest in the city's strategies concerning forest management, coastal resource preservation, and effective solid waste handling, which they can adopt in Samal.
Igacos is a cluster of islands strategically positioned at the center of the Davao Gulf in the country's southern region. The city, classified as a fourth-class component of Davao del Norte province, is the initial merged city in the Philippines.
Aquino said they chose Mati City as they have observed that it excels in environmental matters, which aligns with the interests of the Igacos. He added that their office has noticed that there are practices they can learn from or adopt in Samal.
The Igacos officials visited the renowned Guang-Guang Mangrove Nature Reserve Park, shoreline of Dahican, and eco-blocks production in Barangay Dahican, among other tourist spots in the city, as part of their itinerary.
Mati City Information Office head Ben Tesiorna said the city has been playing host to visitors from various regions of the country interested in assessing the initiatives and undertakings of the city government administration.
Earlier this month, Mati City Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat said that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is collaborating with the city for a housing endeavor aimed at providing advantages to the Muslim population.
Rabat said in her program Magtanong kay MNR that BARMM government officials met her to discuss projects they could support to the city. Assistant Senior Minister Abdullah Cusain headed the BARMM delegation.
"According to the BARMM officials, the housing project here in the City of Mati would be the first project of BARMM outside of their jurisdiction. The plan is commendable because each lot would measure 150 square meters, and the house would have three bedrooms," Rabat said.
Rabat said that the city's counterpart for the project is the government land in Dahican, which the city would donate. Aside from the housing project, she added that the BARMM officials vowed to do another project to benefit the Muslim fisherfolks.