“We are really challenged as to how we can turn Davao City into one of the greener cities in the Philippines. Davao has been known to be one of the safest cities in the world; so how about its environmental aspect? We need to promote it too because it constitutes a big part of the city’s safety.”

This was emphasized by Lem Manalo, co-organizer of Ecofest 2015, during its grand opening last June 24, at the People’s Park, Davao City.

According Manalo, Ecofest is a collective effort of organizations campaigning for environmental sustainability.

“There have been a lot of environmental events in the past, pero lahat kanya-kanya. What happened now with Ecofest is that various environmental organizations have come up with one event that is in line with the Philippine environment month,” he said.

Different organizations from City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Lungsod ng Dabaw, City Agri, and from schools and other private sectors have come up to organize the event. Booths showcasing their respective agricultural products and practices are sprawled across the span of the event area.

Over the course of the event, various activities such as the Lunhaw environmental discussions and mini lectures (June 25 and 29, 2-5pm), Organic Fair (June 26), Watershed Stakeholder’s Summit (June 26 at the UM Matina Campus), and the Ecokids story-telling and coloring workshops (June 27 and 28, 3-5pm) will be held.

Ecofest, dubbed as the “greenest” festival in Davao City, is the first of its kind and is a collaboration of sorts by numerous environmental organizations.

Ecofest will be at the People’s Park from June 24-30, 2015.