The refusal of single-use plastic was raised during the annual celebration of Earth Hour at SM City Puerto Princesa in partnership with City Government of Puerto Princesa, March 30, 2019.
The awardees for Gawad Makakalikasan 2019 also received tokens packed in eco-friendly bags made of “katsa” or canvas from Tatak ni Tatang Printing, which is an advocacy against free plastic bags at check out counters.
Reusable shopping bags made of environment-friendly materials and biodegradable such as canvas could last for years and sturdy enough to stand up to years of use.
Project Chair Karl Dylan Aquino announced the ten recipients of 2019 Gawad Makakalikasan Award, assisted by SM Mall Manager Maidja Saliente, City Councilor Nancy Socrates and JCI representatives.
Three awardees from Private Business Sector category were: (1) Yamang Bukid Farm, as an emerging farm tourism destination in Palawan. Yamang Bukid continuously seek to restore the balance of the environment and communities around it. They are strongly committed to keep on “Doing Business with a Heart” and “Living a Life for Others”. (2) Binhi Mindful Market, which is a conscious and mindful space that values fair trade and promotes an eco-friendly and sustainable lifestyle through conscious consumerism and entrepreneurship. (3) Menungang Eldew Café for promoting used coffee ground as fertilizer and reuseable as body scrubs. For Civic and Society Organization Category (4) Scubasurero Palawan for conducting under water clean-up with coastal clean-up and information campaign. (5) Center for Sustainability PH is a non- profit female –led environmental organization working on sustainable community development in Palawan. One awardee for Academe Category (6) Holy Trinity University for Project SWEAR.
In Government Sector, (7) PPUR (Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park as a World Heritage site through strengthening community driven conservation and protection measures, and advocating sustainable tourism and development. (8) LGU of San Vicente known to its long beach and one of the Palawan’s pride municipalities.
For Individual Category (9) Attorney Robert Chan an environmental NGO lawyer and known as “Chain saw Man of Palawan” advocating environmental enforcement program versus illegal logging and illegal fishing in Palawan. (10) The founder of Princesa Refuse Single Use Plastic, Mr. Edilberto “Edong” Magpayao. Ayaw ni Prinsesa ng Plastic Bags (now known as Ayaw ni Princesa ng Single-Use-Plastic or Princesa Refuse Single-Used-Plastic) is one of the implementing arm of Protecting Life’s Surroundings of PLS.
The highlight of the program was prior to the lights off Vice Mayor Nancy Socrates read the Pledge of Action after the Hour, fully sworn by the participants, declaring to participate to the public promotion of the environmental laws, program, policies, and practice the green living and lifestyle.
