Cimatu Urge Everyone to Restore a Healthy Earth Day

As the country celebrates Earth Day on April 22, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Secretary Roy A. Cimatu emphasized the importance of having each Filipino play an active role to collectively make a substantial impact in addressing climate change and other environmental issues.

With this year’s Earth Day theme “Doing our Fair Share to Restore the Earth,” Cimatu challenged the public to join efforts to combat climate change and environmental destruction, especially during a global health crisis.

“From individuals to communities, we can all be part of the solution in addressing climate change and many other environmental issues.  When we stop environmentally harmful activities, not only do we save nature, we also minimize the risk on the spur of new viruses,” Cimatu said.

The DENR chief cited that water and energy conservation, proper waste segregation, and leading eco-friendly lifestyle are among the various actions one can do from the comfort of their homes amid the restrictions caused by the pandemic.

“When done consistently, the seemingly small things we do for the environment all together actually creates a significant impact for the Earth’s healing,” Cimatu said.

He added: “Amid the pandemic, the Department has been actively doing its part on reforestation, river and coastal cleanups, biodiversity conservation, and solid waste management, among many programs.  May each of us also do our share in caring for our environment and planet in any way we can.”

Earth Day Network Philippines (EDNP), the DENR’s partner for the Earth Day celebration, has also recommended 30 environmental actions, such as composting food waste, buying local products, planting native trees, among many others.

Other tips are posted on EDNP’s social media page.

The DENR, in partnership with EDNP, urged the public to join the virtual celebration on April 22 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with main activities happening in the afternoon, including the delivery of the State of the Philippine Environment Address.  The event will be live-streamed on Facebook thru https://www.facebook.com/earthdayphilippines.

The said event will also launch the handbook Sustainable Development Goals–Laudato Si’: Towards Ecological Solidarity by the Living Laudato Si’ Philippines and the jingle-making contest by the DENR Task Force Tayo ang Kalikasan.

There are also scheduled webinars on “Eco Entrepreneurship: Opportunities and Challenges” on April 29 organized by DENR and EDNP.

The “Mind Your Business! An EnviPreneurship” webinar on April 27, led by the DENR-Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), aims to help micro, small, and medium enterprises on environmental sustainability for their businesses.

DENR-EMB is also inviting children five to 12 years old to join “E-Doodle Mo, Kid,” a doodle art contest to express care for the Earth and the environment through art from the safety of their homes.

The contest will run until April 23 with voting via EMB’s Facebook page from April 26 to 30.

Observed every April 22 of each year, Earth Day is a global movement celebrated by more than 190 countries that advocates for sustainable action for the environment in various ways and to change human behavior.