Lopez Group commits to a greener future as it marks Environment MonthThe whole month of June was jam-packed as the Lopez Group companies simultaneously kicked off their Environment Month celebrations.

With the theme “Recovery, Resilience and Regeneration,” each organization shared their respective regenerative practices through collaborative activities with their stakeholders and the public.

OML Center started off the monthlong celebration with a bang by inviting the public to their “Mga Kwento ng Klima” watch party and online trivia games. Through segments such as “Nilamon ng Tubig,” “Enerhiya at Kalikasan” and “Binuhay ng Pag-asa,” the documentary spotlighted how communities in the Philippines have coped with various climate change events.

Innovative ways to adapt

OML Center director Dr. Rodel Lasco emphasized the urgency of climate action, saying: “Iba ‘yung kinakaharap natin, mas matinding mga problema kaysa mga dati na nating mga hinaharap. Therefore, we should learn new things, new ways and innovative ways where we can adapt and adjust to the changing climate.”

Doing just that, First Gen Corporation gamified climate change education by conducting the “Zoom-tacular Race for Climate Action” in partnership with First Philippine Holdings Corporation’s (FPH) Wellness Wednesdays program.

Jing Dugan, First Gen CSR senior manager, said: “As we recover from the pandemic and return to the new normal, we should leave our old ways and redesign our actions to be more resilient and regenerative. We designed the Zoom-tacular Race for Climate Action to remind our Kapamilyas that the recovery from the pandemic and our quest for our planet’s healing can be fun and fulfilling, especially if we work together. This Environment Month, we also wanted our fellow Kapamilyas to take pride in how we, as the Lopez Group, continuously contribute to a regenerative future through our various environmental initiatives. These were featured throughout the Zoomtacular Race for Climate Action.”

Learning from EDC foresters

Energy Development Corporation (EDC) followed with the launch of a series of watercolor workshops highlighting the five flagship flora species across its wind and geothermal project sites. Participants of all ages and from different parts of the country learned how to paint EDC BINHI’s endangered Philippine native trees with illustrator and graphic artist Cynthia Bauzon-Arre while simultaneously learning about biodiversity conservation practices from EDC’s foresters.

EDC’s flagship fauna species were not forgotten as the Apo myna and flying fox plush toys under EDC’s BINHIFlagship Species Initiative were launched in Museo Sorsogon, Sorsogon City, in partnership with ABS-CBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) and two of EDC’s partner communities in the region.

Employees from different Lopez Group companies also joined simultaneous tree-planting activities organized by EDC BINHI, First Balfour Inc. and AFI across the country, resulting in a total of 2,262 native tree seedlings planted, equivalent to an average of 56 tonnes of carbon dioxide sequestered per year once the seedlings are fully grown. One of the tree-planting activities held by AFI in La Mesa Ecopark was supplemented with an arts and music festival that was attended by employees and their families.

Two new arboreta

In addition, BINHI launched two Philippine native tree arboreta in partnership with Bangui National High School in Burgos, Ilocos Norte and the Philippine Eagle Foundation in Davao del Sur on June 25 in celebration of Philippine Arbor Day.

Although COVID-19 recovery and the urgency to address climate change seem daunting and challenging, the Lopez Group Environment Month celebration hopes to impart to all stakeholders and the public that climate action can be fun, engaging and meaningful through collaboration.

In FPH chairman and CEO Federico R. Lopez’s own words: “We cannot possibly succeed if we go the journey alone. We look forward to building those collaborative pathways with as many kindred spirits as we can.” (Story/Photos by: Soleil Acu)

‘Mga Kwento ng Klima’ participants take a zoomfie together

EDC BINHI watercolor workshop participants show off their works

AFI’s Bantay Kalikasan celebrates Environment Month by holding a music fest in La Mesa Ecopark

AFI director Berta Lopez-Feliciano (6th from left) and EDC Bacman corporate relations head Ed Jimenez (8th from left) with Sorsogon City vice mayor Eric Dioneda and representatives from PENRO Sorsogon, PIA, Department of Education, Department of Tourism and EDC’s partner communities at the launch of the plush toys

The Apo myna in the wild

The golden-crowned flying fox in the wild