By Stephen J Pedroza
The region-wide environmental movement dubbed as Valuing Ecosystem Services Together (VEST) of Xavier University recently had its successful launch, highlighting the people’s participation and a paradigm shift to prevent another catastrophe from inflicting Northern Mindanao.
Various stakeholders across Region 10 drew together at the Activity Center of Centrio - Ayala Mall on November 4-7 for the unfolding of VEST as an offshoot campaign, encouraging the communities to participate in a “rewarding mechanism” for Mt Kalatungan.
“We have in one way or another experienced the wrath of a natural disaster. Do we want to experience another [Typhoon] Sendong? Of course not. We should rather say ‘Never! No more,’” said Gertrude M Garcia, the (officer-in-charge) director of XU’s McKeough Marine Center. MMC frontlines this environmental endeavor as part of the ridge-to-reef approach in the region.
“The catastrophes we have gone through should propel us all to consider a sustainable means to at least mitigate disasters from happening,” Garcia added.
The grand launch of VEST was set in line with the first year commemoration of the destruction of Supertyphoon Yolanda, which plowed across the Visayas the same time last year and curtailed the lives of more than 6 thousand people.
Sendong no more
VEST is grounded upon the philosophy that what happens at the top trickles down to the lowlands. Evidently, during the lash of Typhoon Sendong in December 2011, most water which came down and ravaged Cagayan de Oro City originated from the headwater tributaries in Bukidnon.
“The think tanks have thought of the Payment Ecosystem Services (PES). The PES program has VEST as its campaign aimed at engaging different sectors in the region to take part in the venture of protecting our remaining forests,” Garcia said in her speech at the opening ceremony of VEST.
PES acts as a “payment cycle” designed to protect our forest in the highlands of Mindanao so that when it rains, the water will not be devastating by the time it reaches urbanized areas such as CDO.
“This rehabilitation will provide the ecological service of preventing further flooding in the city that is why it is important that we bring in the communities from the downstream and upland to this landscape restoration,” said Dr Hilly Ann Roa-Quiaoit, XU vice-president for Research and Social Outreach (RSO).
VEST has targeted five sectors to take part in this ecological undertaking, namely, the corporations, cooperatives, the academe, religious groups and the households.
Roel R Ravanera , the executive director of Xavier Science Foundation (XSF), the non-government organization (NGO) which serves as the fund and resource manager of this green project, posed a challenge for everyone.
“It is not too late to rehabilitate the forests of Bukidnon that is why our partners in the Miarayon-Lapok-Lirongan-Tinaytayan Tribal Association (MILALITTRA) have organized themselves to help us protect and manage well our environment so CDO will not experience another Sendong again,” Ravanera said.
XSF and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) have also been closely working with the MILALITTRA and for the pilot year, three hectares serve as a model showcase for reforestation and agroforestry.
A people-led green project
Part of this endeavor is to mainstream the principles of VEST. With this idea, a slew of activities were aimed at raising awareness and encouraging the Kagay-anons to participate in the fund drive to reforest Mt Kalatungan and reward the efforts of the indigenous people community as the forest managers.
The rundown of activities included a photo exhibit, essay writing contest, poster making contest, wishing upon a tree, trivia night, selling of the VEST merchandise items and a grand concert as the culmination of the launching.
The VEST project supervisor Evans I Yonson attributed the success of the VEST grand launch to several factors such as “the concept, the branding, the package and the people behind it.”
“The concept is something for everyone in Cagayan de Oro. PES needs to be understood by different sectors at the same time. Coming up with a brand for PES, which is VEST, was a challenge. Packaging it was another experience. We needed to have a company of communication and technical persons to make sure that the concept and the brand would be very effective,” explained Yonson, a Development Communication professor at XU.
“We are now getting good and positive feedback, thus far,” he added.
The VEST project has drawn together more than 130 student volunteers for the 4-day event and a number of sponsors and donors. Social media interventions were also used by the core team to reach wider audience especially the youth.
What’s next for VEST?
“We will now move forward by going directly to the household level, visit and conduct orientation for schools, corporations, various churches, and cooperatives,” Yonson said as part of the five sectors encouraged to invest in nature.
“The next target is making people value Mother Nature more. How? By donating to the cause,” he continued.
As of the grand launch, PES/VEST has already accumulated more than half a million pesos including a donation made by the Development Communication Society worth Php13,000 to sponsor one hectare from the community development plan of MILALITTRA.
The 5-year master plan of MILALITTRA aims to reforest 832 hectares, while 816 hectares will be allotted for agroforestry.
Mt Kalatungan is among the 18 protected areas to be provided with technical and management assistance by both the public and private sectors to achieve balanced and inclusive growth.
“Our lives are interconnected with one another. What happens in the highlands will affect the downstream communities and we value our forests because they are part of our identity,” MILALITTRA chairman Datu Dungkoan “Rio” Besto said in Bisaya.
“Above all, this project is a great way to show our utmost respect to Mother Nature— to heal what we have caused her.”
To donate and support the VEST cause, you may contact the McKeough Marine Center Extension Office at the Science Center Room 104 and/or (+63 88) 858-3116 local 3115 or 3104. For more information, you may visit the Facebook page of VEST (facebook.com/vestogether). Tweet us at @vestogether using the hashtags: #inVESTinNature and #VESTfriendofNature. All photos by the VEST team.
VEST congratulates the winners of the following competitions during the grand launch at the Activity Center of Centrio - Ayala Mall.
The VEST Poster Making Competition (Junior Category)
Beatrice Mae Besinga (1st)
Rachel Anne Gallardo (2nd)
Joe Michael Fabrigas (3rd)
The VEST Poster Making Competition (Senior Category)
Mark Garcia (1st)
Alexander Christian Legaspi (2nd)
Art Dan Diate (3rd)
The VEST Essay Writing Contest (Junior Category)
Kris Valerie S. Navidad (1st)
Christine Beatrice Itchon (2nd)
Maria Raphaelle Tolod (3rd)
The VEST Essay Writing Contest (Senior Category)
Mary Antonette Magallanes (1st)
Albert Ulep Jr. (2nd)
Rezza Mae B Tolinero (3rd)
The VEST Trivia Night
Geek Street Team (Samuel Abao, Marvi Rafael Montecillo and Nadine Arabelle Lim Vivares)