“Where the vision is one year, cultivate flowers.
Where the vision is ten years, cultivate trees.
Where the vision is eternity, cultivate people”

- Oriental Saying -

Various sectors in Bayawan City gathered on June 21, 2012 for a day of workshop to map-out existing sustainable development initiatives.  The workshop was facilitated by Nicanor Perlas and was initiated by the City Government of Bayawan through the Character First! Bayawanihan Office in partnership with MISSION.

The activity aimed to identify key sustainable development initiatives in Bayawan coherent with the seven dimensions and framework of Integrative Sustainable Development as defined by Philippine Agenda 21.  The outputs of the workshop will be used as materials in strengthening the various plans and directions of the city that at present are all in a refresh mode namely the City’s Comprehensive Plan (CLUP) for 2032; The City’s Performance Governance System (PGS) Roadmap for 2020; and the Strategic Direction of CF! Bayawanihan Movement for the next five (5) years.  The outputs will also provide significant information for the Green Convergence which is soon to be established in the City as well as the Liwanag World Festival of Creativity and Sustainability.

Through a creative process of Appreciative Inquiry the participants listed with deep inspiration and excitement the amazing things that are happening in Bayawan.  Some exciting programs in the city being listed are the following:

1) Ecological Waste Management with support facilities such as the Ecological Waste Management Facility; Waste Water Treatment Facility and the Sanitary Landfill;

2) Environmental, Agricultural and Disaster Risk Management Initiatives (Organic/Natural Farming, Reforestation Project and Watershed Development)

3) Character First! Bayawanihan Program with its coalition-building initiatives, Values Orientation in Classroom Education with the leadership of the Faith Community, Youth Leadership Program and the Sampong-Libong Bayani;

4) Healthy City Program with the healthy lifestyle program; no smoking policy and more.

Amazingly, all the groups agreed that the most significant initiative that would bring positive radical change is the Character First! Bayawanihan, which has covered all the dimensions of sustainable development.

The Character First! Bayawanihan Technical Working Group will serve as the core group and will process the outputs of the workshop; plan & initiate the conduct follow-through activities; and conceptualize in the launching of the Green convergence.

We would like to thank the ever-facilitating presence of Nic and the support of Dumaguete Node through Esther Windler and all the MISSION members that inspired us in bearing the light and love.