By Ariel C. Sebellino
It was sort of finding the missing links. But beyond that, everyone agreed there is more to what meets the eye.
Fifteen journalists from the National Capital Region and Luzon were invited by the GIZ-German Development Cooperation for a roundtable dialogue on the environment and its many dimensions titled, “There is More Than One, What and Why” on December 15, 2011 at Dusit Hotel in Makati City.
Experts and principal advisers from GIZ or the ‘green sector’, Dr. Walter Salzer and Dr. Bernd-Markus Liss, led the pack of seven technical experts who presented fresh angles and developments on various components on environmental issues and concerns, such as: land use planning, forests and climate change, disaster risk management, coastal fisheries, climate change in coastal areas, rural development policies, and solid waste.
“Stories should not be limited to how much money is being spent or poured in for environmental programs in the Philippines,” Salzer said. Salzer expressed concern over some reports that have failed to discuss and probe into the core issues on the environment. “We need to connect things.”
According to Liss, fifty percent of the Philippines is forest land but there is no proper land use. “Other countries see the spiritual value forests.” He challenged Filipinos to rebuild forests.
Both resource persons believe that it is high time for the Philippine government and the citizenry “to make decisions now” since “we already know enough about climate change”.
Meanwhile, freelance journalist Tess Bacalla observed that environmental reportage over the years has missed raising the level of public discourse. “There are more stories wanting to be told and that journalists need to look for these stories,” Bacalla said.
Lyn Resurreccion, science editor of BusinessMirror said that environment as a topic is multidimensional. “There are various issues surrounding it,” she said.
Experts and advocates on the environment and environmental issues are open to more interaction with the media and interested in bringing them in Leyte, Panay and Negros to see the sustainable management of coastal fisheries and forests.
PPI trustee Elnora Cueto said that a partnership can be explored. “We just need to further discuss the details or terms of reference.”
GIZ is a federally-owned enterprise that supports the German government in the field of international development cooperation. It has been cooperating with Philippine partners for thirty years now “to balance economic, social and ecological interests through multi stakeholder dialogue, participation, and collaboration”.
