A nationwide forestry program committed to the promotion of environmental protection.
THE CHALLENGE
The deterioration of the country's forest areas is the root of our water crisis, flooding and imbalanced ecosystem.
Illegal loggers plundern hardwood wherever they are: in precious and life-giving watershed areas, and even in protected areas like our national parks and forest reservations.
Most of our 125 proclaimed watershed areas are covering a total of 1.5M hectares have been classified as deteriorating or dying. We lose 1.4 percent of our forest cover every year.
Total protected area is only 2.5 million hectares or just 9 percent of total land area of the country. Protection is mostly nominal. There is only one forest guard for every four thousand hectares.
OUR EFFORTS
Luntiang Pilipinas is a nationwide tree-growing program that seeks to create Forest Parks in urban areas- in national and local government centers, school grounds, chruch yards and along roadsides.
The foundation envisions itself in the next ten years to be catalyst in the protecting and preserving the environment through the:
- Creation of an atmosphere for a sustainable Green Philippines.
- Institutionalization of a Corps of Green Crusaders among Filipinos, especially the youth to sustain the environmental program.
- Effecting change in values and attitudes through environmental information, education, and communication (IEC) and;
- Intensification of multi-stakeholder cooperation in sustainable development.
PROJECTS
It was on October 28, 1998 when Luntiang Pilipinas was launched by Senator Loren Legarda at the Rizal Park. It was institutionalized and operationalized as a complementing private initiative program on nationwide urban forestry with the primary aim of raising the level of consciousness of Filipinos to the value of trees.
REGULAR FOREST PARKS
This involves the development of Forest Parks in provinces, cities, municipalities and barangays nationwide and every conceivable areas such as church yards , town plazas, and many other available places. The partnership with the local government units is vital in institutionalizing environmental awareness and management in local governance. A number of Memoranda of Agreement have been entered into by Luntiang Pilipinas with various LGUs, NGOs and POS to effectively carry out the objectives of the program.
CAMPUS FOREST PARKS
This is part of the strategic approach of bringing the concept of environmental protection to the youth by creating Forest Parks in school campuses.
NORTH-SOUTH EXPRESSWAY (NSEW) GREENBELT PROJECT
The project calls for the creation of the Forest Park in each of the 52 loops of the 127-Kilometer stretch NSEW from Calamba, Laguna to Dau, Pampanga by planting 12, 000 to 15, 000 trees in each loop. At the same time trees are planted two to four meters apart depending on the tree specie. This is a joint undertaking with the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC)and the Manila North Tollways Corporation.
TRAFFIC ISLAND FOREST PARKS
The inauguration of the Buendia Center Island Forest Park project gave impetus to the launching this new environmental endeavor. With the support and assistance of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the mayors if the cities and municipalities in the National Capital Region, this project aims to create Forest Parks in selected traffic islands in various parts of Metro Manila.
THE FOUNDER
Senator Loren Legarda has been hailed as a "Green Crusader" because of her staunch advocacy of environmental issues, particularly those pertaining to forest and marine resources. As a legislator, she has authored and co-authored two landmark environmental legislattions: the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act (RA 9003).
In 2001, Loren was elected to the prestigious Global 500 Roll of Honor for environmental Achievement by the United Nations Environment Program in Turin, Italy and to the Global Leaders of tomorrow (GLTs) for 2000 by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. She was also awarded by the Priyadarshni Academy in India for her exemplary contributions to the environment. She was a Likas Yaman (Natural Treasure) awardee of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources for her outstanding work as founding chair of the Save Our Seas (SOS) and Trees for Life Foundations.
As a broadcast journalist for more than 20 years, she championed the cause for a more healthful ecology for heightening public awareness of environmental problems through her television programs "Pep Talk" and "The Inside Story". Her subsequent newsmagazine program "Earth Link" became the first television documentary series on the environment and was awarded both the KBP Golden Dove Award and the EarthSavers Media Award on its maiden season.
Senator Loren continues to fight for Mother Nature and with your help, we will make our environment greener, in a more progressive and healthy Philippines.
SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS
More than TWO MILLION TREES have been planted in approximately 5oo Hectares across the country visible in 33 provinces, 28 cities and 84 municipalities made possible through assistance of over 240 institutional partners including 28 corporate donors and benefactors, 22 national government agencies, 21 non-governmental organizations (NGO), 22educational institutions, two international/foreign entities and countless individuals backed up by a well planned information, education and communication (IEC) campaign with the primary aim of raising the level of consciousness among Filipinos to the value of trees.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Loren Legarda
Friends in media, and her staff, texted me about Loren Legarda's planned declaration of candidacy at the Luneta Park last Friday. Loren right now stands to be a lone voice on the issue of climate change. That of course may change with the kind of "awakening" that we got from Ondoy and Pepeng. Candidates may now find it a worthy way to get more votes, especially in the hotly-contested and Ondoy-devasted Metro Manila.
So let's give Loren five green point for the simple reason of thinking ahead of the pack.Come to think of it, this means she has the foresight, the vision if you may, compared to other candidates whose campaigns are still anchored on cheesy messiahnic message of "lalaban tayo." Eh sino lalabanan mo?
Thousands gathered at the Luneta: not the kind of mob that televangelists usually gather, but impressive nonetheless as these are people she's been with in the past post-Ondoy weeks: the people of Potrero, Malabon; Lupang Arenda in Rizal - whose houses are threatened to obscurity by the overflowing Laguna Lake -- and the Moslem community of Quiapo. People from her political bailiwicks Batangas and Ilocos were also there.
Loren did not do what was expected of her during her speech. She did not reveal her intentions for 2010 during her speech but admitted later - in a press conference - that she is gunning for the vice presidency.
Many thought - me included - that she would still insist on running as president of the country which she stressed is the best platform for pursuing preparations for climate change. She may have probably realized that she has a better chance of getting what she wants done by pairing with a stronger candidate, who has the same vision.
That is something we will eagerly await for. Who will be Loren's number 1 and will the environment be a crucial part of his platform?
I've requested my friends involved in Loren's campaign for a copy of her speech. I wish to see it in detail, although I have a general idea of her platform.
Anyway, in that same morning, Loren came to witness the signing of the Climate Change Act in Malacanang. While Ondoy and Pepeng made these bills more urgent than ever, let's give Loren five more green points for the kind of work she put to get the bill passed. It is not easy to get a bill passed if you're a big opposition name and a serious presidential contender.
Source: http://thegreenvote.blogspot.com/2009/10/loren-legarda.html
So let's give Loren five green point for the simple reason of thinking ahead of the pack.Come to think of it, this means she has the foresight, the vision if you may, compared to other candidates whose campaigns are still anchored on cheesy messiahnic message of "lalaban tayo." Eh sino lalabanan mo?
Thousands gathered at the Luneta: not the kind of mob that televangelists usually gather, but impressive nonetheless as these are people she's been with in the past post-Ondoy weeks: the people of Potrero, Malabon; Lupang Arenda in Rizal - whose houses are threatened to obscurity by the overflowing Laguna Lake -- and the Moslem community of Quiapo. People from her political bailiwicks Batangas and Ilocos were also there.
Loren did not do what was expected of her during her speech. She did not reveal her intentions for 2010 during her speech but admitted later - in a press conference - that she is gunning for the vice presidency.
Many thought - me included - that she would still insist on running as president of the country which she stressed is the best platform for pursuing preparations for climate change. She may have probably realized that she has a better chance of getting what she wants done by pairing with a stronger candidate, who has the same vision.
That is something we will eagerly await for. Who will be Loren's number 1 and will the environment be a crucial part of his platform?
I've requested my friends involved in Loren's campaign for a copy of her speech. I wish to see it in detail, although I have a general idea of her platform.
Anyway, in that same morning, Loren came to witness the signing of the Climate Change Act in Malacanang. While Ondoy and Pepeng made these bills more urgent than ever, let's give Loren five more green points for the kind of work she put to get the bill passed. It is not easy to get a bill passed if you're a big opposition name and a serious presidential contender.
Source: http://thegreenvote.blogspot.com/2009/10/loren-legarda.html
Implement Law On Climate Change Adaptation
Speaking at the National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, Senator Loren Legarda today called for the serious implementation of her landmark legislation that will strengthen our country’s efforts in addressing the greatest humanitarian challenge, climate change.
“The passage of the Climate Change Act, could not have come to a time more ideal than today. And I am pleased to be with you again to further discuss this landmark legislation,” said Loren who chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change.
The filing of this measure two years ago took inspiration from the Albay Declaration, the outcome document of the First National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, as it called for “the passage of a policy prioritizing climate change adaptation in the national agenda”.
“The ensuing discussions on the threats of climate change to our basic human rights - food, potable water, shelter, decent livelihood and life itself, have occupied us for some time now. In response to these impacts, vulnerable countries like the Philippines should ramp up efforts to enhance the resilience of our people,” laments Loren.
She added, “Special attention should be given to the poorest of the poor, who are also the most vulnerable to the scourge of disasters. They are the small farmers, fisherfolk, upland dwellers, urban squatters living on riverbanks, forestlands, seashores, and low-lying areas. Without planning and assistance, more will lose their lives, homes and farms that make up their life's possession. Just a single extreme weather event can derail the achievement of our Millennium Development Goals' target.”
“While climate change has recently been at the forefront of international and local discourse, it is perhaps only now that we have seen its devastating impacts,” said Loren, citing the consequences of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.
She said it took these two calamities “for us to realize the urgent need to confront the drivers of our vulnerability to disasters and climate change – poor urban governance, vulnerable rural livelihoods and ecosystems decline – in order to save lives and secure livelihoods.”
Climate Change Act will build resilience to the impacts of climate change. The Commission on Climate Change shall be the sole policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs and action plans of the government relating to climate change.
The Climate Change Act mandates the Commission to:
1. Coordinate and synchronize climate change programs of national government agencies;
2. Recommend key development investments in climate-sensitive sectors such as water resources, agriculture, forestry, coastal and marine resources, health, and infrastructure to ensure the achievement of national sustainable development goals;
3. Create an enabling environment that shall promote broader multi-stakeholder participation and integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation;
4. Coordinate and establish a close partnership with the National Disaster Coordinating Council in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness in reducing the people’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters; and
5. Formulate the Framework Strategy and Program on Climate Change, the National Climate Change Action Plan and facilitate local action plans.
The Climate Change Act puts the local governments in the frontline of the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans which includes risk reduction, in their respective areas speeding up the capacity building for local adaptation planning, implementation and monitoring of climate change initiatives in vulnerable communities.
Further, the new legislation places disaster risk reduction as the first line of defense against climate change risks. Recognizing that climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction are closely linked and effective disaster risk reduction enhances climate change adaptive capacity, the measure will ensure the integration of disaster risk reduction into policies, programs and initiatives on climate change.
The Climate Change Act, the first in Asia, sums up the country's great resolve to take the issue of climate change very seriously. It goes to show that we value above everything else the welfare of our people through the protection of the world where we all live.
“This law is for us, our children and the generations after them. Ensuring its full implementation is the great challenge and responsibility posed to us all,” said Loren. (30)
“The passage of the Climate Change Act, could not have come to a time more ideal than today. And I am pleased to be with you again to further discuss this landmark legislation,” said Loren who chairs the Senate Committee on Climate Change.
The filing of this measure two years ago took inspiration from the Albay Declaration, the outcome document of the First National Conference on Climate Change Adaptation, as it called for “the passage of a policy prioritizing climate change adaptation in the national agenda”.
“The ensuing discussions on the threats of climate change to our basic human rights - food, potable water, shelter, decent livelihood and life itself, have occupied us for some time now. In response to these impacts, vulnerable countries like the Philippines should ramp up efforts to enhance the resilience of our people,” laments Loren.
She added, “Special attention should be given to the poorest of the poor, who are also the most vulnerable to the scourge of disasters. They are the small farmers, fisherfolk, upland dwellers, urban squatters living on riverbanks, forestlands, seashores, and low-lying areas. Without planning and assistance, more will lose their lives, homes and farms that make up their life's possession. Just a single extreme weather event can derail the achievement of our Millennium Development Goals' target.”
“While climate change has recently been at the forefront of international and local discourse, it is perhaps only now that we have seen its devastating impacts,” said Loren, citing the consequences of typhoons Ondoy and Pepeng.
She said it took these two calamities “for us to realize the urgent need to confront the drivers of our vulnerability to disasters and climate change – poor urban governance, vulnerable rural livelihoods and ecosystems decline – in order to save lives and secure livelihoods.”
Climate Change Act will build resilience to the impacts of climate change. The Commission on Climate Change shall be the sole policy-making body of the government tasked to coordinate, monitor and evaluate the programs and action plans of the government relating to climate change.
The Climate Change Act mandates the Commission to:
1. Coordinate and synchronize climate change programs of national government agencies;
2. Recommend key development investments in climate-sensitive sectors such as water resources, agriculture, forestry, coastal and marine resources, health, and infrastructure to ensure the achievement of national sustainable development goals;
3. Create an enabling environment that shall promote broader multi-stakeholder participation and integrate climate change mitigation and adaptation;
4. Coordinate and establish a close partnership with the National Disaster Coordinating Council in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness in reducing the people’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters; and
5. Formulate the Framework Strategy and Program on Climate Change, the National Climate Change Action Plan and facilitate local action plans.
The Climate Change Act puts the local governments in the frontline of the formulation, planning and implementation of climate change action plans which includes risk reduction, in their respective areas speeding up the capacity building for local adaptation planning, implementation and monitoring of climate change initiatives in vulnerable communities.
Further, the new legislation places disaster risk reduction as the first line of defense against climate change risks. Recognizing that climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction are closely linked and effective disaster risk reduction enhances climate change adaptive capacity, the measure will ensure the integration of disaster risk reduction into policies, programs and initiatives on climate change.
The Climate Change Act, the first in Asia, sums up the country's great resolve to take the issue of climate change very seriously. It goes to show that we value above everything else the welfare of our people through the protection of the world where we all live.
“This law is for us, our children and the generations after them. Ensuring its full implementation is the great challenge and responsibility posed to us all,” said Loren. (30)
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