HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRIPE-VINE: OUR NEW ABNORMAL

A recent media event held at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to celebrate World Environment Day, led by DENR Secretary Toni Yulo-Loyzaga, was a showcase of some of the strategic partnerships that the DENR has entered into with the private sector and with LGU’s (local government units), in order to help accelerate environmental action and sustainability. And what was great to note was how these partnerships have a strong, positive impact on the communities that live in the localities where the synergies are occurring. What I liked about the event was how it turned environmental action and sustainability into achievable goals, with realistic targets to pursue. Too often, we’ve been presented both concepts as pie-in-the-sky objectives and/or dream aspirations, with ideas such as carbon emissions neutrality eliciting blank stares or “kamot-scratching” moments. Filipinos are “ma-pride,” and I know so many will just dismiss talk of sustainability with “Alam ko na yan,” or with a nod and a raising of the eyebrows. *CELEBRATING WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY, DENR Sec. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga (right), with Vince Dizon of Prime Infrastructure Capital, and Shimoda Shigeru of Marubeni.*
So this was DENR and Sec. Toni Yulo-Loyzaga presenting a diverse number of initiatives that specifically speak of combatting climate change, arresting the proliferation of plastic waste, and advocating the UN sustainability goals – in a concrete manner that the communities directly affected could appreciate and/or participate in. Present on the rostrum were representatives from the Japanese trading giant Marubeni, the Swiss cement company Holcim, the Razon-led Prime Infrastructure Capital, Inc., the familiar SM Supermalls and San Miguel Corporation, and surprise participants DMCI Mining Corporation and Makilala Mining Company, Inc., – surprising to me, because we don’t immediately associate mining with sustainability. Then, there were HOPE/Century Food, Inc., and Basic Environment Systems and Technologies, Inc. Did I not mention diverse? And yet, there was a common thread running through all these corporate entities and their specific initiatives – and how they’re working with the DENR. It was about the DENR mantra on natural resources — protect, rehabilitate, restore and regenerate, and the mantra on waste — reduce, reuse, recycle. I was especially taken by the SM Supermalls presentation, and how there was diversity and a multi-pronged approach to addressing environmental issues. They had a Cash for Trash program, solar panels on mall rooftops, indoor gardens, water storage and treatment facilities, weekend markets for farmers’ produce, plus disaster resilient construction features. *ENGINEER  BIEN MATEO VP for Operations, SM Supermalls.*
Further to this forum, other activities marked the DENR and Philippine Environment Month. A Luntiang Puso – Women in Action for Environment Awarding Ceremony recognized women’s organizations and their contributions to the planning, implementation, and monitoring of Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) projects. In partnership with the United Nations Development Programme Philippines and the Climate Change Commission, the nationwide campaign of LOOPFORWARD: Linking Opportunities and Partnerships Towards Circular Economy through EPR was launched last June 19. The aim of this campaign is to gather knowledge, awareness and support for the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Act of 2022. This law addresses the mismanagement of plastic waste, and upholding circularity. A marine litter learning activity was held on June 21-23, a joint initiative of the DENR and UN-Habitat Philippines, with strong representation from youth-led organizations that foster spreading awareness on marine litter and its impact on communities and wildlife. Loyzaga recognizes how important it is to engage the youth and have them ally with the DENR; as they are the more passionate, and more invested. Just the other day, on June 30, the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) launched the Luntiang Puso – Outstanding Community Livelihood Projects Through Local Waste Recovery. While it may be a mouthful to read out, it’s the EMB recognizing livelihood programs initiated by communities in their effort to reduce and recover wastes. It’s part of raising environmental consciousness at the grass roots and barangay level, by recognizing and rewarding their efforts. While we may still be in the midst of the struggle to significantly reduce plastic waste, the DENR, through the leadership of Sec. Yulo-Loyzaga is taking a multi-pronged approach to addressing the issue of plastic waste, and sustainability, and seeking across the board support for their efforts and programs. We should recognize the value of these initiatives and lend our support in any way possible – even if on a soft impact manner, every little bit helps, as it’s all about fostering the right mindset.