Several indigenous groups in Tuminugan Farm learn and practice regenerative acriculture. Photo from the presentation of Renée Perrine, Co-Founder of Hineleban Farms. MANILA, 10 May 2021 — Sustainable farming advocates highlighted the socio-economic, environmental, and climate benefits of regenerative agriculture - a farming method that improves the resources it uses rather than destroying or depleting them through technologies that revitalize the soil and the environment during the 44th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Pathways,” with the topic, “Farms of the Future.” The online conversation hosted by three-term Senator, now Deputy Speaker and Antique Representative Loren Legarda featured sustainable farming experts including Moises Butic, Ifugao muyong system practitioner; Renée Perrine, Co-Founder of Hineleban Farms; and Nicolo and Paula Aberasturi, Founders of Earth Flora Inc. They shared their regenerative agriculture practices and gave tips on how to secure and ensure a steady supply of safe and nutritious food even in the most challenging of times. “What are the challenges facing the Ifugao terraces landscape? There is a lack of appreciation for the value of trees, and the widespread use of fast-growing tree species disturbs and changes the landscape of the original muyong or agroforestry plants. There should be more studies on values associated with the multi-functionality of the muyong and the rice terraces. We should also add more programs to sustain and enhance local initiatives geared toward the promotion of the Ifugao culture among the new generation,” said Mr. Butic. “When we cover the soil, we actually enhance the soil health. Our number one rule or motto is ‘Zero soil leaves the land’. Second thing is to use the resources that God gave us, which is water. We are in a tropical climate so usually we have a lot of rain, but in 2015-2016, we had a long extensive drought. We have to be climate-resilient to both drought and flood,” said Ms. Perrine. “Filipinos are one of the most creative people in the world. Current government efforts have been towards mechanization and digitalization of agriculture without putting much effort into soil building. Healthy soil is the backbone of the Philippine agriculture and the quickest and cheapest way to raise farmer productivity and income. If farmers are given the right tools and training, they can run a very profitable farm business. This will start attracting young people back to farming,” said Mr. and Mrs. Aberasturi. As a home gardener herself and author of House Bill No. 637 or the Food Forest Gardening Act of 2019, Legarda emphasized that the application of regenerative agriculture can produce high quality, nutrient-dense food while simultaneously improving the land, and ultimately leading to productive farms and healthy communities and economies. "Ang problema ng pagbabaha ay dahil sa siltation ng mga ilog dulot ng soil erosion. Ang precious soil na galing sa mga slopes at kabundukan ay nag-eerode dahil sa maling paggawa ng agrikultura. Nahuhubad ang ating lupa so nawawala ang nutrients ng soil, nakakasagabal pa sa ilog, nagbabaha pa sa mga tabing-dagat o tabing-ilog, at nagdudulot ng mas malaking disaster. Pero kung aalagaan natin ang ating soil in a regenerative way ay magiging mayaman ang lupa, maganda pa ang ating mga tanim, at hindi pa magso-soil erosion at river siltation," Legarda concluded. As an online discussion to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices, "Stories for a Better Normal" aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities by demonstrating ways in which a ‘better normal’ can be realized within our communities. This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.
MANILA, 4 May 2021 — Sustainable farming advocates will gather virtually to share knowledge on the socio-economic, environmental, and climate benefits of regenerative agriculture on the 44th episode of “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” with the topic, “Farms of the Future.” The episode, hosted by three-term former Senator, now Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda, will air on Thursday, 6 May 2021, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/iamlorenlegarda. Joining the online conversation are resource persons including Moises Butic, Ifugao muyong system practitioner; Renée Perrine, Co-Founder of Hineleban Farms; and Nicolo and Paula Aberasturi, Founders of Earth Flora Inc. In previous episodes, the online series tackled various topics on sustainability including food gardening and saving seeds, permaculture, planting native trees, and millennial farming to encourage audiences to adopt a healthier and more environment and climate-friendly lifestyle—as needed now in this COVID-19 pandemic and climate emergency. This episode will feature groups that practice sustainable and regenerative agriculture, a farming method that improves the resources it uses, rather than destroying or depleting them, through technologies that revitalize the soil and the environment. Regenerative agriculture leads to healthy soil, capable of producing high quality, nutrient-dense food while simultaneously improving land which leads to productive farms and healthy communities and economies. It is dynamic and holistic, incorporating permaculture and organic farming practices, including conservation tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, composting, to increase food production, farmers’ income and especially, topsoil. A global shift to regenerative agriculture can feed the world, decrease greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to climate change mitigation, improve yields, revitalize local economies, preserve traditional knowledge, nurture biodiversity, and improve nutrition. As an online discussion to promote health, environmental consciousness, and climate-adaptive practices, "Stories for a Better Normal" aims to change the mindset of individuals, families, and communities by demonstrating ways in which a ‘better normal’ can be realized within our communities. This online discussion is organized in partnership between the Office of Deputy Speaker Legarda and the Climate Change Commission, with support from the Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.
MANILA, 3 May 2021 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) welcomed Nestlé Philippines’ commitments to halving their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050 – even as the business continues to grow. This was during the 2021 Net-Zero Fair: Nestlé’s Contract with the Planet event virtually held April 30. Nestlé, among the world's top food and beverage manufacturers, declared 92 million tonnes of GHG emissions in 2018 - more than half of which came from the process of sourcing the ingredients for their products. “From now until 2025, we will accelerate and expand the work already undertaken to achieve a 20% reduction in emissions. Between 2025 and 2030, we will transform our operations to achieve a 50% reduction of emissions. Finally, from 2030 to 2050, we will work to balance our emissions by exploring how we offset any remaining emissions through high-quality carbon removal projects or innovation, the result of which will be net-zero emissions,” Nestlé declared in its Net Zero Roadmap. To achieve these milestones, Nestlé pledged to take action across agriculture, operations and products, including: ·Protecting trees and landscapes that help absorb carbon and planting 20 million trees every year for the next 10 years; ·Working with farmers to shift to regenerative ways of growing ingredients for food, including for the products produced; ·Ending deforestation in the primary supply chains by 2022; ·Completing the transition to 100% renewable electricity in the 187 countries operated by 2025; and ·Increasing the number of 'carbon neutral' brands to give consumers the opportunity to contribute to the fight against climate change. CCC Secretary Emmanuel M. de Guzman noted that the company's commitment to shift towards carbon neutrality aligns with the country's objectives in its first Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. The first Philippine NDC conveys an ambitious emissions reduction target of 75 percent from 2021 to 2030 compared to business-as-usual projections. It formalizes the country’s goal of pursuing a low carbon and resilient development for the agriculture, waste, industry, transport, and energy sectors over the decade. "The role of business and industry in the climate agenda is critical. It stands with many others that hold significant resources and capacity for investment. If harnessed properly, these could drive innovation, create more opportunities, and improve millions of lives,” De Guzman said. The CCC encouraged Nestlé and other businesses to responsibly and efficiently utilize principles of the circular economy through more efficient recycling, sustainable packaging, and reducing their carbon footprint. The company's fast moving consumer goods have been tagged in the 2020 Brand Audit Report of the Break Free From Plastic coalition as one of the world’s top plastic sources of marine litter. The climate body is actively advocating for the passage of a law that would phase out single-use plastic products across the country according to set periods depending on the products' replaceability or recyclability. The phaseout will be complemented by the establishment of an extended producers responsibility (EPR) scheme to oblige companies to take-back, collect, and recycle their products and help reduce waste going into landfills or leaking into the natural environment. “Government and individual actions are vital to addressing climate change. That we are increasingly being joined by partners in the large business sector is a positive and encouraging step forward. Nestlé Philippines is taking full responsibility for its climate footprint; we hope that initiatives like today’s inspire more private businesses to undertake bolder climate action, as we all work together to sustain the momentum and the gains for a safer and more secure future for all,” said de Guzman.
MANILA, 29 April 2021 — The Climate Change Commission (CCC) and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) invite local government units (LGUs) to join the Local Climate Change Expenditure Tagging (CCET) Webinar, a virtual orientation on identifying and tagging climate change plans, activities, and programs in local investment plans and programs. The webinar will be held via Zoom and streamed live on the CCC Facebook page on the following dates: May 4 for Luzon LGUs; May 5 for Visayas LGUs; and May 6 for Mindanao LGUs. The virtual orientation will cover eight essential topics on climate science and the policy responses of the Philippine government – zooming into entry points for national and local action. Climate change planning and investment programming based on actual local government experience will also be shared to add practical knowledge. Secretary Emmanuel M. De Guzman, Commissioners Noel V. Gaerlan and Rachel Anne S. Herrera of the CCC will join Secretary Eduardo M. Año of the DILG, and Director Anna Liza F. Bonagua of Local Government Development as guest speakers to the said three-day webinar. Furthermore, members of the CCC’s National Panel of Technical Experts, Dr. Rodel D. Lasco, Dr. Juan Pulhin, and Fr. Jose Ramon Villarin will serve as resource speakers alongside Mr. Gerard Lavadia, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer from Tagbilaran City; Mr. Raoul Cam, City Planning and Development Coordinator from Ormoc City; and Mr. Nael Crusero, City Planning and Development Coordinator from General Santos City. Last year, despite the imposition of community quarantines across the country, the CCC and its partner agencies delivered several virtual CCET webinars and orientations to institutionalize CCET in the national and local budget programming and expenditure tracking processes and to ensure that institutions are aware of and compliant with the CCET requirements provided in the National Budget Preparation for the Fiscal Year 2021 memorandum. The CCET aims to serve as an effective basis for allocating and prioritizing government resources by generating timely statistics and baselines to evaluate the impact of climate public expenditures. The Climate Change Act of 2009 (Republic Act No. 9729, as amended by RA 10174) identifies local government units as the frontline agencies in formulating, planning and implementing climate action in their communities. Interested participants may pre-register for free via this link: bit.ly/RegisterCCETWebinar. For more information about the Local CCET Webinar for LGUs, visit the Facebook page of the Climate Change Commission at www.facebook.com/CCCPhl or directly contact the CCET Helpdesk CCET Helpdesk through Mr. Francisco III Dacumos at lguhelpdesk@climate.gov.ph, lguhelpdesk.ccet@gmail.com or (02) 8254-7056.
MAYNILA, ika-28 ng Abril taong 2021 — Magsasama-sama virtually ang ilan sa mga entrepreneurs mula sa sikat na Poblacion area sa Makati upang mai-angat ang kamalayan kung paano isinusulong ng mga lokal na negosyo ang environmental sustainability at pangangalaga ng pamanang-kultura sa ika-43rd episode ng seryeng “Stories for a Better Normal: Pandemic and Climate Change Pathways,” na may temang, “Makati Poblacion: Empowering Local.” Pangungunahan ni dating three-term Senator, at ngayo'y Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda ang episode na ito, na mapapanood sa Huwebes, ika-29 ng April 2021, 10:00 AM via Facebook Live at facebook.com/CCCPhl and facebook.com/iamlorenlegarda. Kasama sa online na talakayan ang mga entrepreneurs na sina Samantha Nicole Samonte, Programming Director ng Futur:st; Rachel Harrison, may-ari ng Zambawood Private Event Space; Architect Jed Yabut, na isang rattan artist; at Chef Christine Zarandin, founding chef ng Wantusawa. Matatandaang sa nakaraang mga episode, pinag-usapan sa online na serye ang papel ng micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), lalong-lalo na sa usapin ng tradisyonal na paghahabi at mga sining, pagpa-palayok at pagla-laryo, pagtatanim ng kape, at pagtatanim ng kawayan, sa pagbibigay ng mga pagkakataong magkaroon ng sustenableng pagkakakitaang pangkabuhayan habang pinapangalagaan ang pamanang pang-kultura at sinusuportahan lokal na manlilikhang sining. Sa episode na ito, bibigyang-diin ang kolektibong pagkilos ng mga entrepreneurs para muling bigyang-buhay ang Poblacion, at gawin itong isang urban center at maningning na lugar ng pag-asa para sa sining, kultura, at environmental sustainability sa pamamagitan ng pagbabagong anyo at pagkatao ng distrito sa gitna ng pandemya. Itatampok din ang mga local spaces na sumusuporta at nagbibigay kakayahan sa mga homegrown brands at mga alagad ng sining. Malaki ang naging epekto ng pandemyang COVID-19 at ang katuwang nitong mga hakbanging quarantine sa lokal na mga MSMEs, na binubuo ng 99.5% na mga negosyo sa Pilipinas at nakapagbibigay trabaho sa mahigit kumulang 63% na mga uring manggagawa ng bansa. Ayon sa Asian Development Bank, 70.6% ng mga MSMEs na sinuri sa Pilipinas ang napilitang panandaliang magsara dahil sa COVID-19 outbreak. Bilang importanteng bahagi ng ekonomiya sa Pilipinas, kinakailangang bigyan ng naaayon na suporta ang mga MSMEs para kayanin ng mga itong maka-panumbalik ng mas matatag. Bilang isang online na talakayan upang maisulong ang kalusugan at kamalayang pang-kapaligiran, naglalayon ang "Stories for a Better Normal" na baguhin ang kaisipan ng mga tao, mga pamilya, at mga pamayanan sa pamamagitan ng pagpapakita ng mga pamamaraan kung saan maaaring magkaroon tayo at maisasabuhay natin ang isang ‘better normal’ sa loob ng ating mga pamayanan. Na-organisa ang online na talakayang ito mula sa pagtutulungan ng tanggapan ni Deputy Speaker Loren Legarda at ng Climate Change Commission (CCC) na binigyang-suporta naman mula sa Department of Education, Philippine Information Agency, Philippine Commission on Women, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Cities, The Climate Reality Project-Philippines and Mother Earth Foundation.
