ABS-CBN’s Bantay Kalikasan program director, Norie Garcia, along with its environmental officer Angelica Dacanay, visited the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD). The Bantay Kalikasan team met with selected members of directorate and other concerned staff of the Council to explore potential areas of collaboration and seek technical assistance. The meeting was organized by the Forestry and Environment Research Division (FERD).
Bantay Kalikasan, the environmental arm of the ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc., is actively engaged in alleviating the worsening condition of the Philippine environment through projects addressing air and water pollution, forest denudation, and improper waste disposal. In general, Bantay Kalikasan focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture and ecotourism as well as rehabilitation from damage brought by typhoons.
In a short presentation, Garcia discussed the programs of the organization, particularly the Green Initiative (GI). GI seeks to nurture and protect the environment by involving local communities and forging partnerships with different sectors of the society such as the academe and the public and private sectors. Environmental conservation, poverty alleviation through secure livelihood, and community cohesion and participation are among the goals of this movement. Through GI, Bantay Kalikasan established and promoted the various ecotourism attractions in the provinces of Leyte, Masbate, Mindoro, Palawan, Romblon, Samar, and Sarangani.
Garcia pointed out the areas of immediate concern of her organization, including typhoon recovery efforts, coral reef rehabilitation, organic agriculture, and environmental conservation, which are also PCAARRD’s thrusts as an R&D funding agency.
Meanwhile, Bantay Kalikasan offers its resources and linkages to diffuse PCAARRD’s activities and technologies ready for rolling out on its available media platforms.