The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), throuh its Gender and Development (GAD) Office and Climate Change Service (CCS), recently launched “Mga Kwentong KLIMA-likasan Tungo sa Katatagan: A Climate and Disaster Resiliency Recognition Awards.”

DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu said the awards aim to give recognition to Filipino “movers and workers” who have been making change to bolster climate and disaster resiliency.

“This award will be a testament of the zeal and passion of all the people who do not merely talk but labor in the peripherals to bring knowledge and assistance on climate change concerns to those who need them most,” Cimatu said.

The Climate and Disaster Resiliency Recognition Awards, which is in support to the Global Good Stories Movement, seek to recognize the stories of individuals, both women and men, and groups on the impacts of climate change and disasters in their communities, and on how they are addressing them through pursuing relevant programs on environmental protection and conservation, climate change, and disaster risk reduction.

The Global Good Stories Movement is a movement of people who share the common belief that “we can change the story of the world by changing the storyline.”

“We know there are pockets of good stories and narratives at different levels. As we seek them out, document and publicize them, we hope such can create even more ripples of hope for expanded good stories,” said Analiza Rebuelta-Teh, DENR Undersecretary for Finance, Information Systems, and Climate Change, and the Chairperson of DENR National GAD Focal Point System.

The nationwide search is open to good stories about women leadership, community livelihood development, integrated water resources management, and coastal/upland protection.

It is also on the lookout for stories about critical resilient infrastructure, climate and disaster information services, solid waste management, marine conservation, and coastal governance, road sharing and non-motorized mobility, edible landscaping and food gardens.

Stories on eco-governance, environmental legislation, environmental education, arts for the earth, environmental jurisprudence, youth leadership, environmental diplomacy, marine enforcement, renewable energy, cultural heritage, beach restoration, environmental litigation, water use and recycling, are also welcome.

The initiatives should have been going on at least for the last three years, until to date, or at least, since 2018.

The entries will be judged according to the following criteria: climate and disaster resiliency content (60 percent), visual appeal of the photographs and video (30 percent), and geographical reach of the initiative (10 percent).

The winners of the Climate and Disaster Resiliency Recognition Awards will be awarded P50,000 for first prize, P40,000 for second prize, and P30,000 for third prize.

Consolation prizes of P15,000 each will also be given to seven selected entries.

The winners will be announced and awarded by the end of June 2021 as part of the celebration of the Philippine Environment Month.

Participants must submit their entries and filled-up entry form individually to cco.denr@yahoo.com and ccs.denr@gmail.com on or before May 4, 2021.

Entries may also be submitted to the nearest DENR Community or Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office or DENR regional offices. ###

Published: 15 April 2021