Day: March 5, 2024

JAKARTA : The Government of Norway launched on March 4 the ASEAN-Norway Cooperation Project on Local Capacity Building for Reducing Plastic Pollution in the ASEAN Region (ASEANO) Phase 2 in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

‘We need to work at different levels, international and regional, as well as country and local levels. ASEANO is an important project in that respect, and it is my hope that Phase II will be as successful as Phase I in enhancing local capacity in monitoring and identifying plastic pollution sources as well as in increasing the effectiveness of plastic waste management policies,’ Ambassador of Norway to ASEAN Kjell Tormod Pettersen noted in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday.

During the 2019-2022 period, the ASEANO project was successful in focusing on developing local river plastic monitoring capacity, building knowledge on household and industry sources of plastic pollution, and increasing the effectiveness of plastic waste management policies.

The first phase of the ASEANO project focused
on selected pilot catchments in Indonesia and the Philippines.

To continue the support of plastic pollution reduction measures among ASEAN member states, the ASEANO project phase 2 (ASEANO2) has been developed and approved.

ASEANO2 aims to further develop targeted and cost-efficient prevention and mitigation measures for plastic pollution in ASEAN through a multidisciplinary, cross-sectorial, and holistic approach. This project will set up case study sites in Cambodia and Vietnam.

ASEANO awards grants for research on plastic pollution

Meanwhile, Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Thailand, Dr. Pinsak Suraswadi highlighted that this initiative builds upon the successful groundwork laid during ASEANO Phase 1 and represents a significant step forward in our collective commitment to combat marine plastic pollution.

‘ASEANO Phase 2 aims to further develop targets and implement cost-efficient prevention and mitigation measures for
plastic pollution in ASEAN. This multidisciplinary, cross-sectorial, and holistic approach will draw from experiences gained in Indonesia and the Philippines during the First Phase, with study areas now extended to Cambodia and Vietnam,’ Research Director of the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) Dr. Marianne Olsen stated.

‘This initiative aims to enhance cooperation with a range of stakeholders to improve plastic management practices along the whole plastic value chain and to contribute to meeting sound reduction targets through capacity-building and knowledge-sharing,’ Executive Director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) Indonesia Dr. Arisman remarked.

ASEANO2 will be implemented over four years from 2023 to 2027 by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) Indonesia.

The launch of ASEANO2 will also mark the official start of various activities that will be carried out for this project, with one of the activities to be
undertaken by NIVA, CSEAS, and local partners in both Vietnam and Cambodia being to visit rivers that have potential as pilot sites for ASEANO2.

Source: Philippines News Agency

TACLOBAN: Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores are available in five out of six provinces in Eastern Visayas as part of the government’s effort to make affordable agricultural products more accessible to consumers.

Farmer groups regularly sell their produce in the capital towns and cities of Leyte, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran and Southern Leyte.

They will soon set up a Kadiwa store in Northern Samar, said Department of Agriculture (DA) regional agribusiness and marketing assistance division chief Francis Rosaroso.

‘We have been collaborating with partner agencies to talk about holding more frequent or regular sales of affordable agricultural products in different strategic areas in the region by setting up Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores,’ Rosaroso said in an interview Tuesday.

As of the end of 2023, at least 24 Kadiwa stores have been set up and maintained by the DA in partnership with the local governments and other national government agencies.

The DA released at least PHP23 million grant to 15 farmer cooperatives to
expand their businesses, and provided some PHP25 million to local governments to set up the Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores last year.

Kadiwa is a marketing strategy of the DA that directly connects food producers to consumers, making products less costly.

It seeks to empower the farming community by providing a direct and effective farm-to-consumer food supply chain.

Rosaroso said the model eliminates many marketing layers, allowing producers to earn more from directly selling their produce instead of using trader-intermediaries.

It reduces marketing expenses, thus making fresh and quality products more affordable for consumers.

Source: Philippines News Agency