𝗢𝗻 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟮, 𝗣𝗚-𝗘𝗡𝗥𝗢 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗘𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘂𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁, 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗞𝗮𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗶𝗻 #𝗞𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗮𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗡𝗮𝗺𝗮𝗻

By: Diana E. Jutba, GPC-ENRO | Photos By: PG-ENRO | Date: April 22, 2022

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In celebration of Earth Day 2022, the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) through the Environment and Natural Resources Office (PG-ENRO) conducted an environmental summit via videoconferencing on April 22, 2022 attended by students from various colleges in La Union.

Aligned with this year’s Earth Day theme “Invest in our Planet,” the conducted online activity highlights Enterprise Green Initiatives of business establishments in La Union that promotes their best practices in Waste Management as their contribution in mitigating climate change.

Resource speakers from the Climate Change Commission and Department of Trade and Industry Region 1 were invited to share their insights to the young participants.

Atty. Rachel Anne Sibugan-Herrera, Commissioner of the Climate Change Commission presented the topic on “People’s Priority over Protecting the Earth and Environment.” She discussed briefly the effects of climate change that we are currently experiencing and how we could achieve a sustainable environment. She also shared five easy and small actions coined in the acronym EARTH to make this possible - Eat Sustainability, Advocate for people and Planet, Repair or refill instead of buying new, Turn down plastic, Help organizations that are 'doing good' for the planet.

Ms. Joyce Segui-Sabado, Information Officer of the Department of Trade and Industry Region 1 presented the topic on “Green Economy, An Opportunity.” She stressed that while Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) contribute to the planet’s environmental stress, climate change likewise affects them which leads to additional cost in their production causing decrease in sales. In her presentation, she mentioned that more MSMEs are going Green due to cost saving and market demand in organic products. Ms. Segui-Sabado capped her presentation with a challenge to patronize Green MSMEs and practice Greening as their way in helping mother nature.

On the other hand, in a message delivered by PG-ENRO Officer-in-Charge and Supervising Environmental Management Specialist EnP. Annalyn Rosario-Valdez, Gov. Francisco Emmanuel “Pacoy” R. Ortega III reminded everyone to defend and save our planet and continue carrying out our roles as stewards of the environment and continue supporting PGLU’s #KalikasanNaman campaign.

“Together, in our own little ways, let us step-up in combating the greatest threats to the planet earth. Let us move forward and accelerate the transition to an equitable, prosperous and green economy. May we all forge ahead in harmony with nature. Truly, now is the time to take action in defending our home, and ensuring that our future generation will have a better place to live in.”, he said.

Through the Presidential Proclamation No. 553 s. 1990, the Philippines officially joined the Earth Day celebration to raise environmental awareness and sustainability in the country. In 2008, by virtue of the Presidential Proclamation No. 1481 s. 2008, every April 22nd of the year was then declared as “Philippine Earth Day.”