In line with the observation of safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebration of the Philippine Environment Month is to be commemorated online for the whole month of June—a first in over 30 years.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) opted to move all activities for the yearly event online to further contain the disease. According to DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, this is a chance for us to reflect on the importance of a cleaner environment as people are adapting to the “new normal” worldwide. He added the safety protocols imposed were able to let nature heal as there was an improvement in air and water quality, the resurgence of wildlife, and a growing interest in urban gardening for food security and sustainability.
The Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) has several virtual activities lined up for the 32nd Philippine Environment Month, which has the theme “Protect Nature. Sustain our Future. #HealNature4OurFuture.”
EMB will be conducting online learning activities called “GREENVIRO Games” for the entire month, with the winners awarded bamboo notebooks and limited edition eco-bags for their prizes. For this year’s KANTALIKASAN, an environmental songwriting competition, the ENVIEDUCASONG cover by the EMB KANTALIKASAN Singing Ambassadors will be published online (June 5). An online storytelling for children will be featuring stories on environmental awareness, with titles such as “Basura Monster” and “Ang Paglalakbay ni Niño and Niña” on June 12.
For the 2nd and 3rd week of June, the online ENVICRAFT Gallery will be showcasing the upcycled crafts produced during the enhanced community quarantine. At around the same time, entries for the “Sing for the Earth,” a KANTALIKASAN jam session, and the environmental comic hero design contest called ENVILEAGUE will be posted for online voting for the People’s Choice Award. For the last week, an online lecture series will be featuring discussions entitled “Surviving COVID-19 Pandemic,” and “Way Forward to Green Recovery,”.
All EMB regional offices will also be holding their own activities, such as the online poster-making contest called “Greenketching”, a webinar on solid waste management, an environmental quiz bee, the Kashun Di Cordillera environmental music video production contest, as well as a plant and flaunt photo competition.
By: Mineral Economics, Information and Publication Division