Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment

21/08/2026

📣 WE ARE HIRING! 🌱

The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE) is looking for a Finance & Administrative Officer to join our team and support our work toward a greener, more sustainable, and climate-resilient Negros. 💚

This is a full-time engagement until February 2027. (with high possibility of extension)

If you are organized, detail-oriented, and interested in contributing your skills to an environmental organization working with communities, young people, government, and other partners, we would love to hear from you!

📩 Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and qualified applicants will be contacted as applications are received.

🔗 Apply here: https://negrosanonice.org/opportunities

For inquiries, reach us at [email protected].

Join us and be part of the movement for climate action and environmental justice in Negros! 🌏🌿

21/08/2026

Fix Bacolod’s Waste Problem at Its Roots, Safeguard Communities, Felisa Residents Say

BACOLOD CITY, August 20, 2026 — As the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) public consultation for Cell No. 4 of the Barangay Felisa Sanitary Landfill takes place, residents and concerned stakeholders are calling on the City Government to address the root causes of Bacolod’s waste problem while safeguarding communities already bearing its impacts.

Felisa Has Carried the Burden

In their Manifesto sang mga Sentimyento, residents recalled that in 2009, Barangay Felisa endorsed a sanitary landfill intended specifically for residual non-biodegradable solid waste.

“Barangay Felisa dugay na nga nagapas-an sang kabudlay sang basura sang syudad. Ang amon pag-endorso sang 2009 indi lisensya para sa indi maayo nga pagdumala kag paglapas sa palibot.”
— Jenny Ortilla, PTA President, Barangay Felisa

Fix the Problem at Its Roots

The community is calling for concrete measures that reduce the amount of waste requiring final disposal.

Among their demands are the proper closure of unused dumpsites, a clear guarantee that only residual non-biodegradable waste will be brought to the landfill, and the establishment of a large Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) within six months.

They are also calling for immediate segregation at source and the gradual establishment of decentralized MRFs at the barangay level within six to twelve months.

The residents are likewise calling for a clear guarantee that no incineration will take place in Barangay Felisa.

Safeguard Communities and Ensure Meaningful Participation

The ECC consultation for Cell No. 4 should provide an avenue for affected residents to raise concerns, access relevant information, ask questions, and participate meaningfully in decisions that may affect their homes, health, and environment.

The community's message is clear: Bacolod’s waste problem must be addressed at its roots, while communities that have carried its burden must be protected.

They have given the City Government 15 days to address their concerns.

Read the full article:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aJw_x8TIFp5iS5zkxOfSEFs_xWS6BM_U/view?usp=sharing

20/08/2026

19/08/2026

Let’s hear what the youth had to say about PYES! 📢

The 3rd Provincial Youth Environment Summit brought together young Negrosanons for conversations on waste, the environment, and the role of young people in shaping more sustainable communities 🍃

But what matters most is what happens after the summit. In this video, we asked our youth participants what stood out to them, how they hope to apply what they learned in their respective schools and communities, and which part of PYES they enjoyed the most! 😍

Listen to their reflections and see what they are taking with them beyond the summit. 🌱

🎥 Video by Mary Gold Villanueva
Media Manager, NICE-CHMSU Talisay Chapter

18/08/2026

Three dates. Three runs. Three medals. One mission. 🌱🏃‍♂️

12.2026 • 03.2027 • 07.2027

Stay tuned. The first chapter begins soon. 🌊🌱

17/08/2026

Rethinking waste starts with giving young people a voice! ♻️

On August 14, young Negrosanons from different schools and communities filled the Provincial Capitol Social Hall for the 3rd Provincial Youth Environment Summit (PYES), a day of conversations, questions, new ideas, and shared hopes for a more sustainable Negros.

This year, we challenged ourselves to look at waste differently. Not simply as something we throw away, but as something connected to the way we consume, the systems we live in, and the kind of communities we want to build.

And at the heart of those conversations were the young people who showed up.

To every student who listened, asked questions, shared what they knew, met someone new, and gave their time to be part of PYES, madamo gid nga salamat. Spaces like this only become meaningful because you choose to be part of them. 💚

We are grateful to the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, through the Provincial Environment Management Office (PEMO), for continuing this partnership with NICE and for creating spaces where young people can meaningfully participate in environmental action.

Our gratitude as well to Governor B**g Lacson, represented during the summit by Executive Assistant to the Governor and Provincial PIO Charina Magallanes-Tan, for the Provincial Government's continued support for youth environmental leadership.

And to our keynote speaker, Marian Ledesma, our speakers, panelists, partners, volunteers, teachers, and participating organizations, thank you for sharing your time, experiences, and work with the next generation of environmental leaders.

PYES reminded us that when young people are given the space to learn, connect, question, and participate, there is already so much they are ready to bring to the table.

Padayon, young Negrosanons. 🌱

14/08/2026

“A life shared in service leaves a legacy that continues in the lives of others.”

Celebrating the life and legacy of Mary Jean Lee Concepcion-Patindol 🤍

At NICE, we lovingly knew her as “Ms. Jean.” She was a cherished NICE Wisdom Council Member, Economics Professor, and Lead Writer and Researcher of the SecuRE Negros Roadmap.

Through her knowledge, generosity, and commitment to our communities and the environment, Ms. Jean became part of the work and people that make NICE what it is today. We are grateful for the wisdom she shared and the many lives she touched through her work and kindness.

We give thanks to God for the gift of her life and for the legacy she leaves with us.

May her soul, through the mercy of our Lord, rest in peace. Amen. 🕊️

—-
For those who wish to extend support to the family of Ms. Jean, you may do so through the details posted in the comment section. Thank you.

13/08/2026

In celebration of International Youth Day, we’re looking back at young people learning about the places they call home and how they can help care for them 🧒🏻🍃

Children for Climate began by bringing children together to explore climate change, climate justice, and disaster resilience through fun and interactive activities. From there, they worked with their teachers and community partners to develop their own ideas for climate action and turn them into projects for their schools and communities. At the culminating activity, they came together to share what they had created and reflect on their journey.

Their participation reminds us that young people deserve a place in conversations about the challenges their communities face and the opportunity to contribute to solutions in ways that are meaningful to them.

We thank our participating schools, organizations, and communities for being part of this journey:

• Sangguniang Kabataan - Brgy. Bata
• Barangay 12
• Child Initiative
• Children Optimization for the Revitalization of Environment
• Colegio San Agustin - Bacolod
• University of Negros Occidental - Recoletos
• STI West Negros University

Your support helped create spaces where children could learn, express their ideas, and take part in building more resilient communities 💚

Children for Climate is implemented by Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment. Supported by UNICEF, Positive Youth Development Network, Kabataang Resilient Network, and Department of Social Services and Development – Bacolod.

20/07/2026

Who gets to decide the future of our climate? 🌏

As conversations around geoengineering continue to gain attention around the world, it is more important than ever for communities, civil society organizations, policymakers, and other stakeholders to understand what these emerging technologies could mean for people and the environment.

Recently, the Hands Off Mother Earth (HOME) Alliance, in partnership with the Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE), convened a multi-stakeholder Geoengineering Forum at Negros Residences. The gathering created a space for critical learning, dialogue, and collective reflection on the promises, risks, and governance of geoengineering, while emphasizing the importance of solutions that are community-centered, science-informed, and grounded in environmental justice.

Throughout the discussions, participants underscored that responding to the climate crisis requires more than technological interventions. As former Governor Lito Coscolluela shared, "We need to prove that nature-based solutions work. It is incumbent upon civil society organizations to push governments to prioritize mitigation and adaptation measures."

The forum also highlighted that meaningful change happens when local communities become part of broader movements. As Atty. Andrea Si reminded participants, "When change happens at the global level, it is because local initiatives have already begun."

These conversations reaffirm that addressing the climate crisis requires informed communities, strong movements, and meaningful public participation in decisions that affect our shared future.

The conversation does not end here. As new technologies continue to emerge, may more people become informed, engaged, and empowered to shape climate policies rooted in justice, accountability, and community leadership.

14/07/2026

Statement on the Committee Hearing on the Proposed Waste Acceptance from Victorias City

The Negrosanon Initiative for Climate and the Environment (NICE), together with our allied organizations and community partners, respectfully decided to boycott the committee hearing called by Councilor Al Espino regarding the proposed acceptance of residual waste from Victorias City on Tuesday, 14 July 2026.

This decision was not made lightly.

First, we did not feel that our concerns and participation would be treated with the respect that meaningful public engagement requires. Public statements characterizing our position as "uneducated" or "out of ignorance" created an environment that was neither conducive to constructive dialogue nor reflective of the mutual respect that should guide discussions on matters affecting public welfare.

Second, we had formally written to the Office of the Vice Mayor requesting that any hearing on this matter be jointly convened by the Committee on Environment and Ecology and the Committee on Health and Sanitation, alongside the appropriate committee on legal matters. We continue to maintain that this issue extends far beyond legal interpretation. It raises fundamental environmental, public health, and governance concerns that directly affect communities living near Bacolod's sanitary landfill and along waste transport routes. These dimensions deserve equal attention in any legislative discussion.

Furthermore, based on public statements made prior to the hearing, it appeared that the primary objective of the proceeding was to "educate" stakeholders rather than to genuinely hear and deliberate on the concerns consistently raised by affected communities and civil society organizations. Public hearings should be spaces for meaningful consultation and dialogue—not exercises where conclusions appear to have already been drawn.

Despite our decision not to attend, we fulfilled our responsibility as stakeholders by submitting our position paper outlining our concerns and recommendations. Since then, the specific matter that prompted the hearing has become moot following Victorias City's withdrawal of its request for Bacolod City to receive its residual waste.

Moving forward, our focus remains on addressing the deeper and more urgent challenges facing Bacolod's solid waste management system. We have already written to the Sangguniang Panlungsod requesting that the Committee on Environment and Ecology and the Committee on Health and Sanitation convene a public forum to discuss the persistent issues affecting Barangay Felisa—including the impacts experienced by surrounding communities—as well as the broader solid waste management crisis confronting the city.

NICE and our partners remain committed to constructive engagement. We look forward to meaningful dialogue and working together with the Sangguniang Panlungsod in developing solutions that are evidence-based, participatory, and centered on protecting public health, environmental integrity, and the welfare of Bacolodnons. We hope the Sanggunian will give this request the appropriate consideration and take the necessary action to address these pressing concerns.