UST Department of Political Science faculty researcher Mr. Ronald M. Castillo presented his paper on ‘Localizing Zero Waste: Mapping the Institutionalization of Solid Waste Management in the City of San Fernando’ at the first Local Development Academy held recently at the University of Umea located at the northern part of Sweden. Castillo, a research associate at the UST Research Center for the Social Sciences and Education (RCSSED), also attended the Policy Proposal Making and Participatory Video Making Workshops.
The Swedish International Centre for Local Democracy (ICLD) held its first Local Development Academy at the University of Umea in its efforts to promote knowledge sharing and the advocacy for local development and democracy, the Swedish Centre awarded full funding to 45 participants around the globe.
The academy’s purpose is for the participants to share their own expertise and research studies while joining workshops where they can learn innovations on participatory engagement and local development issues. The academy also served as a venue promoting inter-municipal linkages.
At the RCSSED, Castillo is a member of a research team headed by Prof. Arlen Ancheta, Ph.D. The team is funded by the Global Alliance for Incineration Alternatives (GAIA) researching on the Social and Economic Benefits of Zero Waste Practices. The team is composed of Prof. Belinda de Castro, Ph.D., Assoc. Prof. Maria Rosario Garcia, Ph.D., and Assoc. Prof. Moises Norman Garcia, Ph.D. Castillo serves as political network analyst and local government liaison to the team. His paper on localizing zero waste is a subsequent finding from participating in the field work.
