The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the University of Cebu and Solid Waste Management Association of the Philippines (SWAPP) was signed in Cebu City on November 21, 2011 on the first day of the SWAPPCon 2011’s Conference which was themed: “The Way forward for ESWM in a Climate-Challenged World” informing stakeholders about the pressing issues and approaches to current and future SWM challenges. The MOA was signed by UC represented by Atty. Baldomero Estenzo in behalf of Atty. Augusto W. Go, UC President and former Mayor Mary Jane C. Ortega, SWAPP President. The MOA was conceived due to the offer of UC to host the 2011 SWAPP national conference at UC-METC campus and the openness of SWAPP to provide technical assistance to other institutions and communities in other regions nationwide.

Subsequently, the office space was offered by UC-METC to be used by UC-SWAPP and appointed En P. Emmanuel P. Crucio, Instructor and SWAPP Board Member to be the focal person. He will serve as coordinator and lead person of any waste management and environmental management related activities in the campus and communities where UC has partnership.

This newly signed agreement shall form the basis for collaboration between UC through CARES and SWAPP in the establishment of a SWAPP Visayas satellite office based in Cebu. The responsibilities of both institutions are as follows:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE UC-METC

o Provide space and physical center within the UC-METC campus through CARES to showcase waste management best practices and serve as SWAPP’s Cebu Office for the Visayas;
o Provide venue and personnel, when available, for the implementation of SWAPP-initiated trainings and seminars;
o Assist in the promotion and marketing of SWAPP initiated training courses; and
o Participate in joint activities in relation to waste management.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF SWAPP

o Train UC Students in conducting waste management seminars/trainings;
o Assist CARES in conducting seminars/trainings on waste management to students, UC adopted communities and partners;
o Provide resource persons, experts and reference materials to said trainings when necessary; and
o Develop a solid waste management program in the UC-METC campus that will serve as models for the other UC campuses.