Davao, Cagayan de Oro City partners review progress of Organic Waste Management Project 

DAVAO CITY, Philippines (July 22, 2026) – Local government leaders, environmental officers, and development partners from Davao City and Cagayan de Oro City gathered in for the Project Partners Forum: Updating and Consultation, a key milestone activity under the “Capacity Building for the Reduction of Organic Waste and its Sustainable Management in Urban Areas in the Philippines” Project. 

The forum brought together 35 participants from partner barangays, city government offices, and environmental agencies to reflect on the project’s achievements, assess implementation progress, and identify opportunities to strengthen organic waste management initiatives in their communities. 

The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ) and World Vision Germany (WVG) and is being implemented by EcoWaste Coalition (EWC) and World Vision Philippines. 

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Representatives from Davao City included six Punong Barangays and barangay officials on solid waste management (SWM), six SWM focal persons, eight personnel from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), and one representative from the Environmental Management Bureau of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (EMB-DENR). The delegation from Cagayan de Oro City consisted of four Punong Barangays, four SWM focal persons and barangay officials, and six representatives from the City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office. 

The consultation followed eight months of project implementation, which began with project inception activities, stakeholder coordination meetings, courtesy visits, and technical capacity-building initiatives. Among the major activities completed were the project’s baseline study and the Waste Analysis and Characterization Study (WACS) training conducted across ten partner barangays in the cities of Davao and Cagayan de Oro. 

A key feature of the forum was the Pause and Reflection Session, where participants engaged in a World Café discussion to share experiences, lessons learned, implementation challenges, and emerging good practices from their respective barangays and city offices. The insights generated during the session will inform adjustments to project strategies and implementation approaches moving forward. 

Participants also reviewed the results of the project’s baseline study presented, whose findings provided critical evidence for strengthening waste reduction interventions and monitoring progress toward project outcomes. 

Meanwhile, the breakout discussions focused on identifying gaps, risks, and opportunities, as well as agreeing on priority actions for the next phase of implementation. It reaffirmed the strong commitment of local government units and environmental agencies to improve waste diversion and promote sustainable organic waste management practices. 

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For Hon. Renato L. Agbalong Jr., Barangay Kagawad of Barangay Balubal in Cagayan de Oro City, the project has strengthened local capacities in managing biodegradable waste. 

“The Organic Project through the EcoWaste Coalition and World Vision has provided us huge help in learning the proper management of biodegradable waste in our barangay so that it can become useful. Through this capacity building, we were able to learn valuable knowledge that we can also pass on to our constituents. This project will greatly help future generations by creating a better environment,” he said. 

Pria C. Tacandong, Environmental Management Specialist of CENRO-Cagayan de Oro, underscored the value of cross-sector collaboration in building local expertise. 

“We feel grateful for this opportunity for the four barangays of Cagayan de Oro to be part of this project, which will aid in diverting the 65 percent biodegradable waste generated by the city in ways that are both economically and ecologically beneficial,” she said.

Meanwhile, Catalino A. Genayas, Barangay Kagawad of Barangay Tacunan, Davao City, emphasized the importance of partnerships between local governments and development organizations. 

“As chairperson for agriculture and solid waste management, it is important that barangays have partnerships with NGOs like World Vision and EcoWaste Coalition because our knowledge on solid waste management is often limited. Organizations like them have the expertise to provide technical assistance and mentorship. This project has been a great help to us,” he said. 

Following the consultation, project partners will continue to refine implementation strategies and strengthen coordination mechanisms to accelerate progress toward reducing organic waste in urban communities. 

The project seeks to contribute to more sustainable, climate-resilient, and environmentally responsible cities by enhancing local government capacities, promoting community participation, and scaling practical solutions for organic waste reduction and management.