November A Busy Month for Environmental Awareness

November is a busy month promoting awareness and positive action for the environment as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) leads two very important environmental celebrations: the National Clean Air Month and the National Environmental Awareness Month. It likewise supports the National Climate Change Consciousness Week observed from November 19-25 annually.

“Not one, not two, but three events are celebrated this month all geared towards the protection of the environment. It’s a triple celebration enough to ignite environmental consciousness among Filipinos,” Environmental Management Bureau Director Jonas Leones said.

Leones said the DENR’s Environmental Management Bureau (DENR) has lined up several activities for the month-long celebrations, with the theme, “Environmental Sustainability: Moving into Greater Actions,” focusing on small actions that translate to positive impacts when done collectively.

“Your actions no matter how small can actually lead to change. Throw that trash responsibly, help conserve energy and patronize eco-friendly products,” Leones pointed out.

On November 5, a free concert on clean air, in partnership with the Earth Day Jam Foundation, will be held at the Fairview Terraces in Quezon City. The three-hour concert, dubbed “Ayokong Mag-Gas Mask,” will feature a number of popular bands like Imago and Callalily, singer-songwriter Kitchie Nadal, and clean air champion Lou Bonnevie. This concert is organized by EMB-DENR with the Earth Day Jam Foundation, and other sector-partners.

The EMB, through its Air Quality Management Section (AQMS), will conduct a series of free garage emission testing and lectures on selected bus terminals in the cities of Quezon, Pasig and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan from November 4 to 20.

The AQMS will also have trainings on stack sampling, trouble shooting and maintenance of its particulate matter monitoring equipment, and fuel efficiency and vehicle maintenance with concerned sectors from November 5 to 13.

The Coalition of Clean Air Advocates, with the EMB-DENR, and the Department of Health are jointly organizing a “National Check Your Car Day” on November 17, offering vehicle owners free emission test nationwide. This seeks to achieve clean air quality through a real National Vehicle Inspection and Maintenance Consciousness.

The EMB will also take part in the Asia Regional Policy-Industry Dialogue on SMEs, Finance and Technology for Resource Efficiency, in partnership with SWITCH-Asia-United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on November 18 to 20.

On November 21, the DENR will award selected government agencies and government owned and controlled corporations at the national level during the 2014 Recognition Awards for Eco-friendly Government Offices at the Sulo Riviera Hotel in Quezon City. Eight government offices composed of government agencies and government-owned and controlled corporations, at the national level, will be recognized for their sustained environmental management programs on waste management, water, energy and fuel conservation, air pollution prevention, greening, emergency preparedness, green procurement, orderliness and safety.

On November 27, the DENR is joining other partners in honoring pioneering local government units, and thought leaders, and launch another recognition awards but this time for walkable and bikeable communities at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacanang Palace. The 2015 Philippine Walkable and Bikeable Communities’ Awards will recognize local government units all over the country which have been promoting non-motorized modes of transportation such as biking.

The activity is in partnership with the Share the Road Movement, Office of the Presidential Assistant for Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Interior and Local Governments, and the Department of Public Works and Highways, members of civil society, in partnership with Asia-Pacific Center for Environmental Law, of the International Network for Environment Compliance and Enforcement, Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development.

For the National Climate Change Consciousness Week celebrated on November 24 to 26, the EMB’s Climate Change Office, in cooperation with the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency (NICA), will hold a Forum on Climate Change and National Security on November 25. An orientation-seminar on sea-level rise for LGUs in coastal areas within the Manila Bay Regions will also be held on November 26.

Source: www.denr.gov.ph, PCOO

Image Credit: www.iran-daily.com