SIQUIJOR, Siquijor, June 20 (PIA) – A delegation from Tanzania, Africa visited the province of Siquijor as part of its study tour hosted by the Mother Earth Foundation (MEF).

Program Manager Raphaelo Villavicencio said they have requested to visit Siquijor to learn from the island's best practices through site visits and conversation with the local officials and key stakeholders who managed to effectively implement the Zero Waste program.  

During their visit to Siquijor, the MEF has arranged a Zero Waste Island Learning Exchange between the local officials of Siquijor and Zanzibar, Tanzania where Lord Mayor Mahmoud Muhammed Mussa of Zanzibar City, after listening to the Siquijor local officials' sharing of the best practices, expressed his openness to learn from Siquijor province anything about zero waste that he will practice for the benefit of Zanzibar. 

Mussa also had the opportunity to witness the effective implementation of Zero Waste practices in a wet market in Siquijor island. 

The Learnign Exchange  was also attended by Head of Social Services and Environment Hassan Mohammed Ali and Zero Waste Project Coordinator Shishikaye Wilyhara of Nipe Fagio.

Siquijor province was represented by the Chief of Staff Atty. Dale Tudtud representing the Governor, Provincial Environment and Tourism Officer Cle Bern Paglinawan, along with the mayors of two Zero Waste performing towns, namely Cyrus Vincent Calibo of Larena and Richard Quezon of the Municipality of Siquijor.

Other attendees were Larena Sangguniang Bayan Chair on Environment Norvel Manosa, Rizalie Calibo of Philippine Information Agency Siquijor, MEF Program Manager Raphaelo Villavicencio, and GAIA Asia Pacific Executive Director Froilan Grate. (RAC/PIA7 Siquijor)