Cityecolink

Salamat kadyaw, Brgy. Kinamlutan!!! 🌱

Today, March 10, 2022, we formally presented the CityEcoLink project, as well as our Group Interview findings, to the Barangay Council of Kinamlutan.

We discussed this afternoon our project phases, objectives, and coming activities to the council, finding points of collaboration between our team and the barangay. Our team was received warmly by the council, and they were greatly supportive of our initiative. 😁

Brgy. Kinamlutan, a farming community in Butuan, is our chosen pilot site for the CityEcoLink project. We look forward to working closer with the community, in order for us to close the loop between agriculture and waste management. ♻️

Thank you so much to Brgy. Chairperson Hon. Roger D. Elagor, Brgy. Kagawads Hon. Ryan D. Balili, Hon. Rebecca G. Munda, Hon. Rodel D. Logaos, Hon. Alexander S. Madera, Hon. Sesinando D. Escobido; SK Chairperson Hon. Dennis A. Nayve, Brgy. Secretary Gimalyn G. Dumaplin, and Brgy. Treasurer Jane S. Ahon for having us!!! 💚

To more activities together!

Kumusta na kaha ang atong mga farmers? 👩‍🌾

Today, March 7, we visited Brgy. Kinamlutan to interview the farming community about their concerns and problems — a way for us to get to know the community better.

From irrigation woes to soaring prices of fertilizers, attendees discussed their challenges in running their farms. One farmer expressed how the importation of rice unfairly disadvantaged her farming enterprise. Another told us how she uses organic fertilizers when she can, but is unable to continue if no one is selling it. Yet another showed her hope for the AgriBOOST program and the potential it has to uplift her livelihood. 🌾

We also introduced the CityEcoLink Project to the agricultural community, showing them our intentions, objectives, and how the project could benefit them and their families. ☺️

The CityEcoLink team conducted this activity as part of our Data Gathering Activities, done in preparation for the full implementation of the project.

Brgy. Kinamlutan is our pilot site for CityEcoLink (Phase 1), where we intend to create a system where compostable biowastes would be processed into vermicompost ♻️ for the use of farmers. Kinamlutan is a farming community just beyond the suburbs of Butuan, primarily producing rice.

We’d like to express our utmost thanks to the Barangay Council of Brgy. Kinamlutan under the leadership of Hon. Roger D. Elagor, as well as Jam & Dave, volunteers from Kinamlutan NHS, for helping facilitate our discussion.

Salamat kadyaw! 🥰

💚



📸: Gerald Rago / Michael Piencenaves

When we first started, our project was but a dream.

What would become CityEcoLink was once a set of questions — questions in the minds of five individuals interested in making a change. “Can we fight climate change,” we asked, “while lending a hand to our farmers?”

This grew into an obsession, which turned into a vision. But we had no opportunities. We had no avenue to pursue the concept.

And then on October 2021, an opportunity arose. Leadership Communities (LeadCom) Butuan was on its second year — and they were looking for entries.

From the initial call, what would become CityEcoLink advanced through stages of interviews and screenings hosted by the LeadCom team, each one progressively harder than the next. But we held firm to our vision.

Eventually, Team CityEcoLink was selected as among the Top 10 entries to LeadCom Year 2. Together with Ayala Foundation, Inc. and Butuan - Bloomberg Champion City, we could now pursue the dream we all envisioned. 🏆

But the battle wasn’t over yet. Weeks upon weeks of training immediately followed, drilling the team in various techniques in community work and project management. Our Saturdays were filled with workshops and activities. Each one of us had to sacrifice our time to polish our project to perfection.

At the end of it all, our efforts paid off.

Last Saturday, March 5, 2022, Team CityEcoLink presented our Final Project Pitch to our partners in LeadCom to resounding acclaim. Months of work had finally concluded in a comprehensive presentation detailing the project we had. ✨

No longer would we suffer the pain of being unable to enact our visions. This time, we could explore it — and we’ll have all the help we need. ☺️

Stay tuned to find out more about the CityEcoLink project!!!
And thank you so much to everyone who supported us throughout this journey!!! 💚

Salamat kadyaw,
The CityEcoLink team 😁