4th Lunhaw Awards announces winners
DAVAO CITY – A community-based radio station broadcasting an on-air organic farming school, an underground rainwater catchment system and the green building of a commercial mall are some of the winners of the 2016 Lunhaw Awards. Award organizers recognized five outstanding green initiatives from a shortlist of 21 entries last night in a ceremony attended by Datu Bago Awardee Joey Ayala at the Taboan in Matina Town Square. “We are very glad and honored to announce these year’s winners for the innovative and important green initiatives they have done, and the example they set for all of us Dabawenyos to follow.”, said Lunhaw Awards co-organizer and IDIS executive director Ann Fuertes. “These year’s winners and nominees have made laudable efforts to protect and preserve our air, water and land and by showing that being environment-friendly makes good business sense.”
Joey Ayala in Davao this March for songwriting seminar
DAVAO CITY – Datu Bago awardee Joey Ayala will conduct a two-day workshop for the Lunhaw Awards beginning March 15 in Davao City, where his musical career first began. Ayala, renowned for his use of Filipino ethnic instruments in his modern pop music, will direct and facilitate the second year of the annual MusiKalikasan at the Ateneo de Davao University’s Xavier Community Center. The workshop will teach participants how to compose an effective song in order to promote environmental awareness and stewardship among the public, said Lemuel Manalo, one of the organizers of Lunhaw Awards.
Davao’s ‘Lunhaw Awards’ for the environment opens
DAVAO CITY – Dabawenyos who advocate for environment-friendly practices are encouraged to join the 4th Lunhaw Awards that “recognizes more exemplary environmental initiatives” by the people who heed the environmental policies implemented in Davao City. In a statement, Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) executive director Ann Fuentes said that she is hoping to receive more entries on the rainwater catchment systems (RCS) initiatives of the residents, communities, schools or businesses this year. “Since 2013, the city government has implemented a number of new environmental ordinances like the Rainwater Harvesting Ordinance which mandates the construction of rainwater catchment systems (RCS) for new buildings and residences. This year, we hope to recognize successful and best practices of RCS initiatives in residences, communities, schools or business establishments,” she said.
Groups launch 2016 Lunhaw Awards
DAVAO CITY – Groups from civil society, the academe and the local government launched Thursday an awards event recognizing outstanding green initiatives in Davao City. The “Lunhaw Awards aims to recognize and honor Davaoeños with commendable innovative initiatives in environmental management and sustainability.” The awards is in line with various events in an EcoFestival set from June 24-30.
Lunhaw Awardee calls for more tree growing activities in the watershed
DAVAO CITY – This year’s winner of the Lunhaw Awards for the Best Agro-Forestry Initiative called for an intensification of tree growing activities along the watershed to reverse the damage caused by widespread agriculture development in the area. “Today’s celebration of the International Day of Forests is an opportunity for us to emphasize the importance of forests and of trees outside our forests.”, said artist-teacher Ric Obenza. Obenza, together with the Kalapati group of artists, is famous for his art and ecology workshops which have spurred widespread community initiatives on tree planting and rainforestation projects in Baguio, Calinan, Marahan and Marilog districts. “Trees are essential in regenerating our watersheds. They absorb carbon dioxide and mitigate the impact of global warming brought about by excessive use of fossil fuels. They cool down our rivers and maintain water quality by preventing soil erosion”, he said. IDIS Executive Director Ann Fuertes credits Obenza’s tree planting initiatives as instrumental in creating pockets of mini-forests in a watershed that is being encroached by plantations. “His mini-rainforest parks have become buffer zones against banana and pineapple plantations, protecting communities from toxic pesticides and providing habitats for local wildlife to flourish.”, she said. The Lunhaw Awards recognized Obenza’s soil generation technique and innovative rainforestation methods which have stopped the desertification of upland areas previously cleared for logging and plantations. His use of native trees and organic methods of farming have revitalized the forest land , allowing local animals and plants to survive and providing a source of forest products for communities to economically benefit from. Worldwide, global deforestation continues at a frightening rate. The United Nations estimates that around 13 million hectares are destroyed annually, accounting for a 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions responsible for climate change. In the Philippines, changing land use policies in recent decades have opened up forest land to industrial agriculture and urban migration. This has resulted to the decline of the dipterocarp forest cover in the watersheds – a situation that Obenza hopes to arrest by engaging more community stakeholders in rainforestation activities. “Our conscious turnaround from nature exploiter to environment steward is pivotal in reversing environmental degradation, habitat destruction and biodiveristy extinction. The call of the hour is to ‘Think globally, act locally’. Everyone should do their share by nurturing a tree.”, Obenza said. (MINDANAO DAILY MIRROR)
Davaoeños lauded for promoting a greener environment in Lunhaw Awards
DAVAO CITY — Davaoeño agriculturists, farmers, advocates and other personalities who practice sustainable and innovative ways to promote a greener environment were recognized last night at the 3rd Lunhaw Awards held in Matina Town Square. People and organizations whose local contributions on Organic Agriculture, Energy and Water Conservation, Forest-based Initiatives, Pollution Control, Architecture and Urban Greening and Marine Resource Management were acknowledged in the said awards. Lunhaw was organized by the Interface Development Interventions, Inc. (IDIS) along with the Davao City Agriculturist Office, Davao Association of Catholic Schools, Inc., Davao City Water District and the City Environment and Natural Resources Office. The Awardees were Vidala G. Albion for using diversified tools and ways in Agro-forestry; Kahayag Farms for providing trainings on organic agriculture production in small communities; and Zandro Gaitano for his integrated projects on forestry for increased profitability while maintaining ecological balance. Meanwhile, Noel Batario was recognized for his replication of solar-powered lamps using plastic bottles filled with chlorine, which was later adopted in Manila known as “A Liter of Light”; Ricardo N. Obenza, Jr. for his “human-enhanced” natural forest regeneration project and Helen C. Camacho was awarded for her Urban Container Gardening (UCD) project that helps home owners with limited land area to grow plants using recyclable containers and compost household wastes. Holy Cross College of Calinan was also lauded for devoting its best efforts and attention in managing the environment for the future generations through advocacy campaigns and programs. Special Awards were also given to Davao Doctor’s College for Rainwater and Biohazard Waste Management; SM City Ecoland for Energy and Water Conservation; TESDA Provincial Training Center Davao for Renewable Energy Promotion and Wynward Valley Organic Vegetable Garden for Urban Organic Gardening practices. Other finalists included Tugbok Central Elementary School SPED Center, Salvador “Zaldy” Sarong and Jainab Saba-ani. The Awardees were given a Plaque of Recognition as well as a metal and hardwood trophy designed by Davao’s most celebrated visual artist, Kublai Millan. Environmental advocates and artists Popong Landero and Maan Chua also performed on stage during the said event. (Joanna Garado, 105.9 Balita FM)