THE INTERFACING Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS) kicked off this year’s Lunhaw Awards by showcasing green initiative awardees at the Dabaw Lunhaw Expo.
The Dabaw Lunhaw Expo is a three-day event that opened to the public on Wednesday, Sept. 18, and will last until Friday, Sept. 20 at the SM City Davao Annex Events Center.
Included in this year’s expo is the community Pan-tree-free giveaways of endemic trees, various vegetable and fruit seedlings, and organic fertilizers to attendees which will be available from Sept. 18-20.
The pan-tree is sponsored by the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) and the City Agriculture Office.
IDIS will also hold a green forum on septage and sewerage systems through the Davao City Water District on Sept. 18 and a Solid Waste Management System through the CENRO on Sept. 19.
Apart from the forums, the Lunhaw Conversations which will tackle organic farm-to-table stories and green journalism will involve journalists and students from colleges and universities in the city and will be on Sept 19.
Mark Penalver, IDIS executive director said this year’s edition highlights the Envi Quiz Bee Competition- which will involve junior high school students from various schools in the city- a new addition to the annual awards.
“This is to engage schools and promote our activities to give awareness to schools,” he said.
On the other hand, The 2nd Luntiang Pluma awarding will be on Sept. 20, to recognize write-ups of media practitioners and campus journalists in terms of environmental conservation and protection. Last year’s Luntiang Pluma recognized 10 awardees.
Since the inception of the Lunhaw Awards in 2013, about 165 sustainable practices by individuals, communities, and businesses have been awarded.
In 2017, the city government adopted the Lunhaw Awards as one of the official events of the city. In 2018, former mayor Sara Duterte signed an executive order declaring September of every year as Lunhaw Month.
In her keynote speech, Cherrylin Casuga, Lunhaw Awardee in 2021, emphasized that every individual has the power to make a difference through simple efforts of environmental protection.
“As we celebrate this accomplishment, we have to remember the true measure of success is not on the awards but the lasting impact we make on our communities and the environment,” she said.
Casuga and partner, Narciso Ponce Jr. were recognized in 2021 for establishing Casuga Integrated Farm School in Marilog, Davao City- which capacitates farmers and links them to concerned government agencies.
