A three-day training workshop and dialogue on climate issues, led by the Gerry Roxas Foundation and facilitated by the Communication Foundation for Asia (CFA), was held from July 22 to 24 at the Pinnacle Hotel and Suites in Davao City.
Sponsored by Usaid, the event aimed to identify environmental problems in Mindanao and find solutions.
During the plenary, CFA Executive Director Pie Fenomeno urged media professionals to become advocates for environmental consciousness.
However, Walter Balane of BukidnonNews Net argued that advocacy is the role of NGOs, though he acknowledged the media's need to capture the real environmental issues.
Glen de Castro, Executive Director of the Gerry Roxas Foundation, highlighted the importance of improving media's role in covering environmental issues, noting that many related topics are often overlooked.
The workshop addressed four main issues: livelihood challenges, sustainable development and tourism, weak law enforcement, and the rights of protected lands and indigenous peoples.
On the second day, participants were divided into groups to discuss various topics, including the Green Toolbox by Irich Francisco of the Philippine Eagles Foundation and climate change effects by Jimbea Lucino.
Participants included media personalities, academics, and representatives from NGOs across Zamboanga, Iligan, Bukidnon, Caraga Region, Misamis Oriental, and Cagayan de Oro City.
The theme, “Amplifying Local Voice,” aimed to encourage media members to contribute to solving environmental issues and improve the accuracy of environmental information delivered to communities.
