DILG, architect's group explore partnership for resilient urban development in NCR
By Chito Chavez
(MB FILE PHOTO)
The Department of the Interior and Local Government- National Capital Region (DILG-NCR) and the United Architects of the Philippines (UAP) are exploring the possibility of collaborating in advancing resilience-building in Metro Manila.
In a meeting, both parties identified key areas of collaboration, including integration of architectural expertise in support of local planning, providing technical assistance to the local government units (LGUs) and conduct of capacity-building initiatives.
The DILG-NCR expressed hope that the meeting will mark the beginning of a strategic partnership between them, one that will foster innovative, risk-informed, and sustainable resilience-building initiatives throughout the region.
DILG-NCR Assistant Director Ana Lyn R. Cortez presented the department’s ongoing initiatives on building safe and resilient communities, emphasizing the potential role of UAP in supporting these efforts.
On the other hand Albert John V. Punzalan of the Project Development and Management Unit (PDMU) provided an overview of DILG-NCR’s infrastructure audit, an initiative to assess the structural integrity and resilience of public infrastructure as part of the broader disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation efforts in the region.
Meanwhile, the DILG-NCR conducted the initial batch of the Barangay Waste Solutions: Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Optimization cum Five-Year Solid Waste Management Planning Workshop, through the Manila Bay Clean-up, Rehabilitation, and Preservation Program Management Team (MBCRP-PMT).
The DILG-NCR explained that the activity aims to assist the barangays in the identification of community-level solutions to solid waste problems that shall be reflected in their Five-Year Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP). Discussion-workshops on the formulation of the barangay SWMP and optimization of the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) to assist the barangays strengthen their waste segregation and management, maximize the recovery of recyclable and compostable materials and instill community responsibility in solid waste management (SWM).
With the activity marking a critical step in advancing barangay-level solid waste governance, the DILG-NCR vowed its continued commitment “to strengthening capacity-building efforts, ensuring the effective implementation of solid waste management policies, and promoting enhanced inter-agency collaboration for a cleaner and more sustainable Metro Manila.’’