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ARROYO WANTS ENVIRONMENTAL CARE TO HELP ADDRESS RICE PROBLEM
GMANews.TV
April 19, 2008
MANILA, Philippines - President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo urged Filipinos Saturday to do their share to protect the environment, claiming the rice crisis is a result of global warming and climate change.
A Malacañang statement said Mrs Arroyo issued the message on the eve of an "ecology Mass" on Sunday, to usher in Earth Day on April 22.
The Mass, organized by the EarthSavers Movement, will be aired from 4-6 p.m. as part of the weekly show, "Sining Gising (Ugnayan ng NCCA at DepEd sa Bayan)" show over government-run NBN-4 television.
Concelebrating the Mass will be past and current awardees of the "Fr. Neri Satur Award for Environmental Heroism."
Earlier, Mrs Arroyo issued Presidential Proclamation No. 1276 calling on Filipinos to celebrate Earth Day by planting trees and other acts to protect the environment and maintain the balance of nature.
After the Mass, six "champions of the environment" – three of them from the clergy - shall be given the 2008 "Father Neri Satur Award," according to Earthsavers founding chairman and defeated senatorial bet Heherson Alvarez.
This year's awardees are: Dipolog Bishop Jose Manguiran for being a "true earthsaver and a farmer," advocating responsible mining; Nueva Vizcaya Bishop Ramon Villena for advancing the rights of indigenous peoples; Fr. John Couvreur, CICM, Parish of Saint John Evangelist in Quirino, Isabela, who is also chair of the Ecology Desk of the Diocese, and who runs after illegal loggers and timber poachers in his hometown.
"Ecology-friendly" business firm SM Group of Companies for innovative eco-programs such as SM Waste Markets, SM Greenbags, etc.; Kongreso ng Komiks chairman film/TV Director Carlo J. Caparas for media advocacy and for co-producing a comics competition on climate change and the UN-Millennium Development Goals (UNMDG); and scientist-artist-educator Professor Tomas Ongoco, president of Quezon City Academy, for environmental education, with his book, "Ambon sa Tagtuyot," containing the popularization of scientific data through drama and poems, including the ills of smoking, and a unique "Balagtasan on Climate Change."
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