Bayer - Young Enviromental Envoy

BYEE tackles environmental care amidst economic difficulties

Heavy rains greeted the twelve Bayer Young Environmental Envoys as they gathered in Metro Manila before heading to the venue of the Eco-Camp on September 4, 2009.

The envoys pose for posterity before the start of the lectures at Camp Explore

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The envoys pose for posterity before the start of the lectures at Camp Explore

En route to Camp Explore, nestled at the foot of Mount Purro Nature Reserve in Antipolo City and about two hours east of Metro Manila, the organizers and participants may have silently sung the nursery rhyme to ask the rain “to come again another day”. As the vehicles carefully negotiated the bumpy and muddy terrain leading to the camp, the excitement of spending six days in the rustic and natural setting of the environmental camp was mixed with the feeling of uneasiness.

But even with the incessant rain, the 12 BYEEs remained focused on the environmental lectures given by notable speakers from the academe, and non-governmental organizations that centered on the theme “Surviving Economic Challenge: A Challenge to Young Environmental Leaders.” Topics included Global Environmental Challenges, How to be Environmental in the Age of Technology, Philippine Environmental Law, Environmental Efforts in Industry and Environmental Economics.

Success stories of private groups were shared with the envoys. Ms. Reese Fernandez, Executive Director of Rags 2 Riches, described how they started the social enterprise with a women’s group in Payatas dumpsite. The group makes fashionable bags out of old rags and remnants of cloth and has already created quite a buzz in the fashion industry. And for Mr. and Mrs. Antonio De Castro, owners of the Earthworm Sanctuary, talked about how, something that initially started as a hobby, vermicomposting, has since become a family business. Their stories proved that environmental care as well as entrepreneurship can be both combined.

But the camp was more than just lectures for the twelve envoys as they made visits to Payatas dumpsite in Quezon City to see how the community converts recyclable materials into usable items such as handicrafts, breeze blocks and compost. In the same city, they also had the chance to see similar projects being done in the award winning Barangay Bagumbuhay and the conservation efforts in the La Mesa Watershed, the remaining forest within the city and the source of drinking water of Metro Manila.

The envoys also engaged in an Eco-Debate that dwelled on the theme citing their arguments whether environmental protection could be given a priority given the economic crunch.

Their negotiation and management skills were tested in an Eco-Auction: Divided into three groups, each team was assigned a specific industry. They were given the task to negotiate with other industries to offset and trade their raw materials, products and by products to ensure that their respective operations would be a win-win for both the business and the environment.

The Eco-Challenge fostered the envoys camaraderie and team spirit as they worked together to solve the challenges while having fun at the same time. They likewise spent a whole afternoon with the Dumagats, the indigenous people in the area. The twelve envoys also left a mark in the nature reserve by planting trees atop the mountain unmindful of the mud and steep slopes.

“The Eco-Camp was really a once in a lifetime experience. This makes my whole BYEE experience a memorable one with all I have learnt and the new friends that I have,” said Angeli Guadalupe of UP-Manila.

Yes, it was by far the rainiest and wettest Eco-Camp in the nine-year history of BYEE in the Philippines. On the other hand, the rain provided a good atmosphere and fitting lesson for the Eco-Camp’s theme. It was as if the weather had said: no matter what the circumstances maybe, environmental concern should not take a back seat.