The Island Garden City of Samal was chosen as a candidate City to the SMART ASEAN Green Cities Programme dedicated to foster the development of funding and financing solutions to implement smart green city projects.
Smart Green ASEAN Cities (SGAC) Programme is a unique initiative of the European Union, implemented by the UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in consultation with the ASEAN Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities (AWGESC) and the ASEAN Secretariat.
The City was proudly represented by Engr. Kim Joshua Garciano and Ms. Karen Kaye Ruiz who showcased the city’s innovative strategies in coping with environmental urban challenges during the first Smart Green ASEAN Cities (SGAC) City Windows Series entitled “Making Capital Work for Cities: Architecture and Instruments”, in Bangkok, Thailand, on December 6–8, 2022.
The high-policy forum was facilitated by the UN Development Capital Fund (UNCDF), in close cooperation with the Global Fund for Cities Development (FMDV) and ASEAN Secretariat and supported by The Government of Thailand.
Engr. Garciano highlighted the city's practices in the preservation of the environment and the challenges that the city is currently facing in the Solid / Liquid Waste Management, Banning of Single-Use Plastic, Sanitary Landfill and Septage Treatment. Along with Samal are Puerto Princesa City of Palawan and Calapan City of Oriental Mindoro.
European Cities such as Porto of Portugal, Villadolid of Spain, Paris of France and Rhenen of Netherlands as well as Asian cities of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia engaged in knowledge sharing as they exchanged varied experiences: the beginning of a four-year programme to find solutions to current environmental problems.
This initial high-level policy forum is the first of four events in the SGAC city windows series of knowledge-sharing events that have been designed within the framework of the project. The windows series will support the exchange of a continuum of development practice that will endeavour to create a new architecture for city finance in ASEAN.
In 2023, Samal shall be welcoming the UNCDF and FMDV as the scoping mission starts. In unity, Samal will continually work to achieve the Pilot City Status which entails more opportunities for technical and infrastructure funding, especially for the Sewerage / Septage Program.
(Source: Samal Island Information FB Page)
