International Women’s Day celebration in Baguio on March 8 shall focus on Circular Economy through the Guest of Honor and Keynote Speaker Dr. Moeko Saito-Jensen, and the four Outstanding Women Leader (OWL) awardees.
Dr. Saito-Jensen is a United Nations Development Program (UNDP) project manager, an Environmental Policy and Management Expert, and a doctoral degree holder in Natural Resource Management (NRM) from the University of Copenhagen.
She promotes Environmental Sustainability; with conforming studies in combating marine plastic pollution, sustainable and community-based NRM, carbon payment, joint forest management, and policy in forest tenure reform.
She shall speak on Circular Economy; on ways to minimize the environmental impact of economic activities towards zero-waste level, or that almost nothing of the materials go to waste. The principles of circular economy include; reduce, reuse, retrieve, recycle, repair, remanufacture, rethink, refurbish, refuse and recover.
Dr. Saito-Jensen is introduced during the program by 2014 OWL awardee, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Officer Mary Ann Tresmanio.
Other messages shall be delivered by Congressman Marquez Go, Mayor Benjamin Magalong, Councilor Elmer Datuin, Chair of committee on Social Services, Woman and Urban Poor, and other city officials.
For the 2025 OWLs ceremonies, Baguio chapter president Lumina Peil assisted by co-officers hand out the awards to former National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director (RD) Milagros Aro Rimando for Peace and Development; Vicky Macay for Indigenous People; Jingle Melanie Ku-Marquez for Health and Wellness; and City Librarian Easter Wahayna-Pablo for Literacy.
The four empowered women have undergone stringent screening and selection from OWL officers and members. Each has made an everlasting mark on their respective field of expertise.
Additional honors shall be accorded to the four awardees in a ceremonial dinner on March 10.
Spearheaded by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the activity is done in coordination with the office of Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, chair on the committee on Health, Sanitation and Environment matters; Councilor Elmer Datuin, chair on the committee on Women, Social Services and Urban Poor; and other city office and agencies.
The theme for the celebration is “Babae sa Lahat ng Sektor, Aangat ang Bukas sa Bagong Pilipinas.” – Baguio City Public Information Office
