Over the last couple of
years, the Philippines has been experiencing an alarming decrease in forest
area. Due to rampant illegal logging and the lack of funds to better secure
protected areas, the countries forests are going nude.
Each year, based on data
from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), around 47,000
hectares of forest cover is lost, which is equivalent to approximately 1.2
million hectares of deforested land in a hundred years. This translates to
about 24 percent in deforestation rate, one of the fastest in the world.
These figures may sound
too statistical, but they are a constant and stark reminder for Filipinos of
the state of Philippine forests. This is also a wakeup call for everyone that
while the government pursues efforts to create a greener country, a great
amount of work is still up ahead, according to the World Wide Fund for Nature
(WWF).
“Without strategic
measures to combat this, Philippine forests will cease to exist in the next two
decades -- leaving the next generation without clean air to breath, fresh and
lush sceneries to enjoy, and endemic flora and fauna will only exist in picture
books,” WWF Philippines President and CEO Joel Palma said.
The severity of the
situation calls for a pursuit of collaboration among all stakeholders -- the
state, organizations, companies, and even the common Filipino. For many,
participating in drives for the environment may seem to measly an idea due to
the gravity of work to be done, but even the slightest act can create a chain
of events that could help the country bring its forests back to full
life.
“We need to act now, and
we need to act fast. We are at a critical time that loudly calls for action and
the participation of everyone. Our fight for a greener Philippines is not won
by one group alone. It needs to be a collaborative effort,” Palma added.
GCash, operated by Globe
Fintech Innovations Inc. (Mynt), recognizes the power of its platform to create
a huge impact for the environment. Placing itself at the forefront of
developing financial sustainability mechanisms that aim to strengthen forest
conservation efforts within its growing user base of 20 million, GCash recently
introduced GCash for Good.
Acting as its corporate
social responsibility arm, GCash for Good has collaborated with World Wildlife
Fund for Nature, Forest Foundation Philippines, Bantay Kalikasan, as well as
Haribon Foundation to pursue their shared vision of establishing a greener
Philippines.
“Through these
collaborations with non-government organizations, international organizations,
and various merchants, we look forward to fulfilling our vision of greening the
Philippines through our platform, as this initiative shall create a significant
impact not only to the environment but also in the daily lives of each
Filipino,” Mynt President Anthony Thomas said.
With GCash for Good,
Filipinos from all walks of life, especially the youth sector, now have the
power to create a positive change for the environment and stay socially
relevant. Through GCash for Good, GCash has made it possible for registered
GCash users to conveniently send donations to their chosen organization.
The platform enables
Filipinos to reach out further while also creating better opportunities for the
society, as it eliminates the hassle of having to endure long processes of
donating through banks and institutions and allows people to focus more on what
truly matters to them.
Various research has
shown that there is a growing trend in crowdfunding as well as micro-donations.
Such kind of initiative, while it may generate a minimal amount at a given
period, would still go a long way and make a significant impact once it gets
added up.
“For every person who
would like to make a difference, it’s also important to recognize that working
together, aiming for the common goal hand-in-hand, can result in an even
greater impact. With GCash for Good, doing something for a cause becomes
accessible and easier for all Filipinos,” Thomas said.
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