DENR-7 starts Environment Month celeb this June

By Hazel F. Gloria

Wednesday 6th of June 2012

CEBU CITY, June 6 (PIA) -- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has led the start of the month-long celebration of the Environment Month on Monday, June 4.

More than 100 participants attended the foot parade with environmental messages and themes.

Organized by the DENR-7, the activity highlighted the national celebration with the theme, “Global Economy: Does it include you?”

The activity also served as a venue for consultation with the various stakeholders on the protection, rehabilitation, conservation, and governance of the country’s environment and natural resources.

The aim of the annual celebration is to foster public awareness on the urgency of preserving the environment and natural resources.

“This is to spotlight and encourage government offices, organizations, communities and individuals to actively engage in addressing challenges of our fragile environment,” said DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso.

Dichoso called the event “timely” in light of the devastating effects of climate change and the need for concerted efforts to address the problem.

He urged everyone by simply reducing their carbon footprint by cutting down their electrical consumption, thus lessening emissions generated from carbon dioxide and fossil fuel.

June 5, meanwhile, is dubbed as World Environment Day which was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment.

Thje UNEP defines the green economy as one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities.

To date, the DENR-7 has lined up a series of activities for the whole month of June to raise the level awareness on environmental protection and management.

For the past 24 years, the Philippines has been celebrating the month of June as Environment Month pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 237. (DENR-7/FCR/HFG-PIA7)