UN Story: Revitalizing Ipo Watershed Ensures Fresh Water for Manila Residents

A Game of Trees

Gamification makes activities more engaging and works well in the Philippines. Now it’s being used to revitalize a forest which helps supply 20 million Filipinos with fresh water.

Who says saving nature isn’t all fun and games?

The Philippines is losing around 52,000 trees daily. Logging, slash-and-burn-farming and land development are erasing 47,000 hectares of forestland yearly – thrice the size of Quezon City. Just 7.168 million hectares remain, covering 24% of the nation’s land area.

But gamification, the process of turning otherwise serious activities into games, might help reverse this.

A partnership between GCash, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Biodiversity Finance Initiative (BIOFIN) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), plus the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) aims to harness Pinoys’ natural love for games to plant 365,000 trees starting July 2020.

Earth has roughly three trillion trees, forming the last remaining forests which harbour 80% of all known terrestrial plant and animal species. Forests not only mitigate climate change by absorbing and storing greenhouse gases while releasing life-giving oxygen, but ensure the availability of fresh water, a resource which is becoming scarcer each summer.

“Water comes not from faucets, but from nature, particularly healthy watersheds,” explains WWF-Philippines project manager Paolo Pagaduan. “Given current trends of deforestation, we might face a future where there isn’t enough water for Filipinos. To secure a clean and reliable source of water, especially during the dry summer months, we need to revitalize our watersheds. No water means no life.”

While currently reeling from the global COVID-19 pandemic, Metro Manila also suffered a dramatic water shortage this time last year. In March 2019, 10,000 Metro Manila households lost water access as La Mesa Dam dropped to its lowest water level in 12 years. Manila’s residents were forced to walk and line up for hours just to secure water for washing, bathing and brushing their teeth.

It is estimated that for 2020 and 2021, Metro Manila’s water demands will overtake supply by as much as 13% during peak days, meaning more dry faucets and unserved households – but taking care of our life-giving watersheds can avert this.

Ipo Watershed

Watersheds are zones which naturally collect and store water. They are typically heavily-vegetated because trees absorb rainwater which drains into streams, rivers and lakes.

Ipo Watershed, together with the Angat and Umiray watersheds, supplies 98% of the water consumed by Metro Manila. Situated northeast of the sprawling Metropolis, it covers 7236 hectares in Norzagaray and San Jose Del Monte in Bulacan, plus Rodriguez in Rizal. It is home to several species of charismatic animals, including the Philippine Brown Deer, Philippine Warty Pig, Tarictic Hornbill, Grey-headed Fish Eagle and Osprey.

Sadly, the watershed’s forests have been in full retreat. Though protected by several proclamations including a Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title for the Indigenous Dumagat tribes of the watershed, the area is pockmarked by patches of burnt soil. From 85%, forest cover plummeted to 40% in recent years, mostly due to slash-and-burn or kaingin farming and charcoal-making.

Gamification

Pinoys have always loved games – ranging from cockfighting to countless hours spent playing Pokemon Go and bumping into things. So too can this natural love for play be used for conservation.

“Over 20 million people use GCash and the majority of them are millennials,” explains Mabel Niala of Mynt, mother company of GCash. “The challenge is to channel the passion and energy of the country’s 35 million millennials for good.” GCash is the Philippines’ top cashless service and services a fifth of its population, plus 75,000 partner merchants and 75 nonprofits.

Using their mobile phones, Pinoys can plant trees through GCash Forest, part of a larger programme called GCash for Good. Users earn Green Energy Points by reducing their individual carbon footprint. Paying bills online for instance, eliminates the need to drive to a bank and consume paper for receipts and forms. More points can be garnered for walking to work, taking the stairs and avoiding single-use plastic items. GCash Forest interfaces seamlessly with existing mobile fitness apps to accurately measure not just energy saved, but exactly how much carbon emissions are reduced.

Each green energy point corresponds to a gram of carbon saved. Points are then used to nourish a virtual tree in GCash Forest. When users reach 20,560 points, his or her virtual tree will be fully-grown. WWF, BIOFIN, GCash and its allies will then plant the user’s tree species of choice this July 2020.

The partnership between GCash, BIOFIN, WWF and DENR was formalized in June of 2019 and aims to bolster Ipo Watershed with 365,000 new trees starting July. “We are depleting our natural wealth at an unimaginable rate. While the Philippines is megadiverse, it is also a hotspot given the extent of the threat to our natural environment. There is no one magic bullet that can turn the situation around. We need diverse actors to engage and find diverse solutions. And we need unusual partnerships – which in time will become usual partnerships. GCash, WWF and DENR are now embarking as one to reduce our carbon footprint and help the Philippines meet its reforestation targets. UNDP through BIOFIN is delighted to bring these actors together to stem the tide on our rapid loss of forest cover,” concludes UNDP Resident Representative Titon Mitra.

The project was inspired by the Ant Financial’s highly-lauded Ant Forest, which was launched in August 2016. Ant Forest encouraged users to grow a virtual forest, which would later translate into a real forest. By August 2019, over 122 million trees were planted in China. “GCash Forest is the localized version of this app. We’re proud that it is the pilot site in Asia,” shares GCash CMO and Head of App Product Chris Manguera.

Today there are over 2.3 million registered users of GCash Forest and plans are well underway for expansion.

“We have always said that the G in GCash stands for good and that our objective is to use technology to give back to the world. This initiative is about more than reforestation or securing vital fresh water for the residents of Metro Manila,” concludes Niala. “It’s about empowering millennials and other mobile users to fight the biggest issue of our era – climate change. But we need to spread the word more, so we call on all Pinoys to try the GCash Forest app today.”

What kind of ending can we expect from this Game of Trees? Though it will affect all Pinoys, it all boils down to the choices of its gamers

FDCP Releases 2nd Advisory on the Activation of DEAR PRESS! PROGRAM

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Relative to FDCP Advisory No. 01 on the activation of the FDCP DISASTER/EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF (DEAR) PROGRAM, a disaster-triggered funding mechanism of the Film Development Council of the Philippines that provides financial assistance to its stakeholders who are directly affected by a major natural disaster, the DEAR PRESS! PROGRAM (for displaced freelance entertainment press) is hereby activated with the following guidelines issued:

Under DEAR, the DEAR PRESS! PROGRAM (for displaced Freelance Entertainment Press) is hereby activated with the following guidelines issued:

1. Definition of Disaster-affected Freelance Entertainment Press Workers. These are self-employed members of the press who were suddenly out of work as a direct result of the COVID-19 Enhanced Community Quarantine and subsequent State of National Calamity, and does not work for a direct employer and are not eligible for government instituted benefits from other government agencies. 
2. Coverage. The program covers disaster- affected freelancer members of the entertainment press included but not limited to editors, writers and reporters on a no-work no pay status, and those that are not formally affiliated with a company. Program coverage is the National Capital Region.
3. Conditions. Any one of the following loss of work conditions must be satisfied by applying workers as a direct result of the COVID-19 situation: 

1. The worker was scheduled to work, but were unable to reach the workplace.
2. The worker was scheduled to start work but the job was cancelled or does not exist anymore.
3. The worker developed an illness, sustained an injury, or became sick and thus, are unable to work.
4. The worker’s employer/ producer has temporarily or permanently closed for business.
5. The worker already started the work but the job was cancelled or postponed to a later date. 

4. Qualifications. Freelance workers of the entertainment press intending to apply for the DEAR PRESS! Program must satisfy all of the following qualifications.
   1. The individual must have job/s that were cancelled or suspended as a direct result of the Covid-19 Pandemic.  March 15-April 14, 2020 is the duration of the Enhanced Community Quarantine in Luzon.
   2. The individual must not have unemployment insurance benefits from either his/her employer/ producer, or from any other government agencies (e.g. SSS, DOLE, DSWD, etc.).
   3. The individual must have written at least one (1) article about the PH showbiz and AV entertainment industry in the last three months that was published or reported in a news or media publication OR covered at least one FDCP press event last year.
5. Benefit Payment. Approved beneficiaries of the DEAR PRESS! Program will receive a one-time cash financial assistance of Five Thousand Pesos (P 5, 000) tax free to cover expenses during the disaster period, like personal needs, medical expenses, housing and rent, and other essentials. The beneficiaries will be required to sign a Declaration and Agreement with FDCP agreeing and abiding to all the terms of the Program and certifying that all details of the application and documents submitted are factual and authentic.
6. Application Process. Relative to the COVID-19 situation, applications may be submitted to FDCP from March 30 – April 30, 2020 or within 30 days of the activation of the DEAR PRESS! Program through this Advisory. Online submissions via email to dearnationalregistry@fdcp.ph with the subject [Application] DEAR PRESS! (Surname, Name) are preferable and hard copy applications are discouraged. However, drop boxes for DEAR PRESS! applications will still be available at the FDCP Office at 855 T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila starting March 23, 2020.  
7. Documentary Requirements. Freelance workers of the entertainment press who intend to apply are required to substantiate loss of work or self-employment or to substantiate work that was to begin on or after the declared date of the disaster. The following documents shall be submitted by each applicant:
   1. Completely filled up National Registry for Entertainment Press (NREP) Application Form
   2. Completely filled up DEAR PRESS! Application form.
   3. Any proof of income
      • Latest Income Tax Return (ITR)
      • payslips, vouchers
      • Copy of PRESS ID
   4. Certificate of Engagement/Employment from a news or media publication 
   5. Any one of the following:
      • Copy/Link of Latest Showbiz-related Articles written for a publication (January to March 2020)
      • Copy/Link of an FDCP-related article written/reported on (2019)

Downloadodable documents:

1. National Registry for Entertainment Press (NREP) Application Form
2. DEAR PRESS Application Form for FREELANCE Entertainment Press Workers
3. Sample Certificate of Engagement for Press

If documentary proof cannot be provided at the time the claim is filed, applicants have twenty one (21) calendar days from the time of application to submit the complete documents. 

8. Disbursement of Financial Support. The concerned FDCP personnel shall issue the financial support directly to the affected worker’s bank account or via available money remittance services at the soonest possible time upon the approval of the application.
9. Effectivity. The DEAR PRESS! PROGRAM shall be effective on 30 March 2020 upon its publication. Applications will be open from March 30- April 30, 2020.

Attached as ANNEX A is the DEAR Fund Guidelines and as ANNEX B is the DEAR PRESS! Program Guidelines. 

For information and guidance.

ANNEX A

FDCP NATIONAL REGISTRY 

DISASTER/EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF (DEAR) PROGRAM

OBJECTIVE

The FDCP DISASTER/EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF (DEAR) PROGRAM is a disaster-triggered funding mechanism of the Film Development Council of the Philippines that provides financial assistance to its stakeholders and is activated as a direct result of a major natural disaster. A major disaster means any typhoon, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water or tidal wave, earthquake, drought, fire, public health emergency or other catastrophes as declared by the President that warrants government assistance to communities and individuals in the country. The DEAR Program is administered by the Film Development Council of the Philippines through the FDCP National Registry and is available to its duly registered members, subject to qualifications.

QUALIFYING EVENTS

Based on the recommendation of the concerned Departments or Disaster Task Force, the President of the Philippines may declare a State of Calamity or equivalent and similar proclamations e.g. State of Public Health Emergency. The declaration identifies the major disaster which provides the full range of disaster assistance available under the law for the country. 

In special cases like these, FDCP can activate its emergency funds. Disaster-triggered support may be made available to provide assistance or aid to its stakeholders who do not qualify for assistance under other programs of frontline government agencies.

INDIVIDUAL ELIGIBILITY

When a major disaster is declared by the President, programs under DEAR will be activated via an official advisory and will be generally available to its stakeholders registered under the FDCP National Registry affected by the disaster. 

In cases where funding is insufficient to serve all eligible stakeholders, FDCP may prioritize those in need of immediate aid. 

APPLICATION PROCESS

To file a claim, disaster-affected stakeholders may contact the Film Development Council of the Philippines National Registry. 

Applications must be filed by an individual within thirty (30) days of the announcement of the activation of the DEAR Program through an FDCP Advisory released online and through mass media channels.

Applicants must follow the instructions in the FDCP 

Advisory and file for an application based on the filing methods used by the Agency (i.e. in person, mail, or online). 

DOCUMENTATION AND REQUIREMENTS

Applicants are required to provide documentation according to the requirements for the activated programs. 

BENEFIT PAYMENT 

A financial assistance (tax-free) will be made to disaster-affected stakeholders whose applications have been approved.

DURATION OF BENEFITS 

DEAR benefits are payable only for the dates that fall within the Disaster Assistance Period.

RESTRICTIONS ON ENTITLEMENT

DEAR benefits are not payable to individuals who are entitled to or qualified for regular unemployment compensation, waiting period credit or benefits from SSS, DOLE, DSWD, their own employer, and similar agencies.

RETURN SERVICE 

As the DEAR Program is a government fund and in the spirit of serving the community and stakeholders, the beneficiary must commit to rendering return service by participating in at least two (2) FDCP-led or supported event, activity or project serving in the capacity of their field. The service must be rendered for free within two (2) years upon the receipt of the assistance.  

DECLARATION AND AGREEMENT

Each approved beneficiary worker of DEAR must sign a Declaration and Agreement with FDCP, agreeing and abiding to all the terms of the Program and certifying that all details of the application and documents submitted are factual and authentic. 

For more information, please contact:

FDCP NATIONAL REGISTRY

855 T.M. Kalaw St. Ermita, Manila

dearnationalregistry@fdcp.ph

http://fdcp.ph/dear-program

ANNEX B

FDCP NATIONAL REGISTRY 

DISASTER/EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE AND RELIEF (DEAR) PROGRAM

DEAR PRESS! PROGRAM (For Displaced Freelance Entertainment Press Workers)

FACT SHEET

WHAT IS THE DEAR PROGRAM?

The FDCP DEAR (Disaster Emergency Assistance and Relief) Program is a disaster-triggered funding mechanism of the Film Development Council of the Philippines that provides financial assistance to its stakeholders who are directly affected by a major natural disaster. This disaster fund is activated every time the President of the Philippines declares a public emergency or a State of Calamity in the country.

WHAT IS DEAR PRESS! PROGRAM (FOR DISPLACED FREELANCE ENTERTAINMENT PRESS)?

DEAR PRESS! PROGRAM (For displace freelance Entertainment Press Wokers) is a targeted program that provides final assistance to  disaster-affected freelance members of the entertainment press—-writers and reporters who who are directly affected by a declared major disaster and are not eligible for other government instituted benefits from frontline agencies (DOLE, DSWD, SSS, Etc.). 

WHAT IS A MAJOR DISASTER?

A major disaster may be a typhoon, storm, flood, high water, wind-driven water or tidal wave, earthquake, drought, fire, public health emergency, or any other catastrophes as declared by the President of the Philippines.

DOES DEAR PRESS! COVER THE COVID-19 SITUATION?

Yes. DEAR PRESS! covers the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic that caused Enhanced Quarantine procedures and consequent declaration of the State of Calamity in the country that disrupted work, events, and activities in affected areas. 

WHAT ASSISTANCE DO I GET FROM DEAR PRESS!?

Each displaced freelance entertainment press member who qualifies for the program will receive a one-time flat rate cash financial assistance of Five Thousand Pesos (P 5,000) tax free to cover their expenses during the disaster period, like personal needs, medical expenses, housing and rent, and other essential needs. Entertainment Press people who have been granted assistance will be requested for a Return Service commitment to FDCP for its programs and activities. 

WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR DEAR PRESS! BENEFITS?

DEAR PRESS! is available for freelance Entertainment Press workers who are members of the FDCP’s National Registry for Entertainment Press (NREP)who suddenly lost work as a direct result of a disaster. 

You are considered “suddenly unemployed or suddenly lost work” if because of the disaster, you experienced any of the following and can support your claim through documentary proof:

1. You were scheduled to work but were unable to reach your workplace.
2. You were scheduled to start work but the job was cancelled or does not exist anymore.
3. You developed an illness, sustained an injury, or became sick and thus, are unable to work.
4. Your employer/ producer has temporarily closed for business, or the place of business was permanently damaged or destroyed.
5. The worker already started the work but the job was cancelled or postponed to a later date. 

You qualify for the DEAR PRESS! benefit if:

1. Your scheduled jobs have been suspended or cancelled as a direct result of a major disaster, as declared by the President of the Philippines.
2. You do not have unemployment insurance benefits from either your employer/ producer, or from any other government agencies (i.e. SSS, DOLE, Local Government, etc.).
3. You wrote at least one (1) article about the PH showbiz and AV entertainment industry in the last three months that was published in a news publication OR covered at least one FDCP press event last year.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR DEAR PRESS!?

Online Application

Fill out a DEAR PRESS!  Application Form available online at http://fdcp.ph/dear-program. Print the form and fill it up legibly by hand or typed text. Collect all the available documentary requirements and attachments, scan each document and submit online to dearnationalregistry@fdcp.ph with the following subject:

[APPLICATION] DEAR PRESS! (Surname, Name)

e.g. [APPLICATION] DEAR PRESS!(Dela Cruz, Juan)

Hard Copy Application 

For applications during the COVID-19 situation, hard copy applications are discouraged. However, drop boxes for DEAR applications will still be available at the FDCP Office at 855 T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila starting March 23, 2020. 

Application Dates

You must file an application within thirty (30) days of the announcement of the activation of the DEAR PROGRAM through an FDCP ADVISORY released online and through mass media channels.

Submission of Documentary Support

Make sure that all documentary requirements are available before lodging your application. However, if further documentary proof cannot be provided when you submit your application, you will have twenty one (21) calendar days from the time your application to meet the requirements. Failure to do this shall forfeit the application or will result to return of the benefit.

Required Documents

1. Completely filled up National Registry for Entertainment Press (NREP)Application Form 
2. Completely filled up DEAR PRESS! Application form
3. Any proof of income:

• Latest Income Tax Return (ITR)
• payslips, vouchers
• Copy of PRESS ID

4. Certificate of Engagement/ Employment from your news or media publication
5. Any one of the following:

• Copy/Link of Latest Showbiz-related Articles written for your publication (January to March 2020)
• Copy/Link of an FDCP-related article you wrote/reported (2019)

WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR DEAR PRESS! BENEFITS?

Workers who are employees of private companies regardless of status (regular, contractual, project-based, contract of service, etc.) and are in the regular payroll of said companies and who are entitled to regular employment compensation, waiting period credit, or benefits from SSS, DOLE, DSWD, and other similar government institutions or agencies are NOT eligible for DEAR PRESS!.

If you are an employee (regular, contractual, seasonal, project-based, contract of service etc.) of a company that is affected by a disaster as proclaimed by the President or your local government executive in your area, please refer to the CAMP and TUPAD assistance programs of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), DTI, DOF, SSS or your respective local government.

WHAT IS THE RETURN SERVICE REQUIREMENT?

The DEAR fund is a government fund for your welfare. In the spirit of serving the community and the stakeholder of the film industry, we ask beneficiaries of DEAR PRESS! to commit to rendering return service by participating in at least two (2) FDCP-led or FDCP-supported events, activities, or projects as a volunteer worker or professional, serving in the capacity of your field. The service must be rendered within two (2) years after you receive the DEAR assistance.

DO YOU HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

For inquiries, please email dearnationalregistry@fdcp.ph with the following subject:

[INQUIRY] DEAR NR (Topic)

e.g. [INQUIRY] DEAR NR (Doc Requirements?)

Forms are downloadable at http://fdcp.ph/dear-program

1. DEAR PRESS! Application Form
2. National Registry for Entertainment Press Application Form
3. FDCP DEAR PROGRAM Fact Sheet
4. FDCP DEAR PRESS! FACT SHEET
5. Sample Certificate of Engagement
6. Latest FDCP Advisory activating DEAR PRESS! PROGRAM

See signed document here: http://www.fdcp.ph/media/fdcp-releases-2nd-advisory-activation-dear-press-program

#Pusong PHLPost gets underway, delivers relief and medical supplies

Wazzup Pilipinas!

The Philippine Postal Corporation (PHLPost) has rolled out its fleet of serving the Filipino people not only to deliver mails but to aid the relief operations of the local government to communities affected by Covid-19.

Postmaster General Joel Otarra gave the green light to all postal areas in the country to address the immediate need for transportation of medical and relief supplies to medical personnel and communities amidst these trying times.

“ In our own little way, we are fulfilling the organization’s mission of serving Filipinos wherever they may be. PHLPost vowed to help the community any way we can, after all we are in this together”, Postmaster General Joel Otarra said.

Currently, PHLPost trucks and other service vehicles are being utilized in different areas to send help to our selfless frontliners in hospitals, clinics, LGUs and communities nationwide.

For example, In Pasig City, their brand new eco-friendly “Green Delivery” electric bicycles which was a landmark initiative of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), PHLPost, TailG, the Pasig Government and Clean Air Asia was dispatched to help in the distribution of relief goods. The Pasig City Post Office mail carriers are at the forefront in assisting the City’s relief operations.

Due to their mobility, these small electric vans and bicycles can penetrate narrow streets and roads for easy distribution to every resident in the community.

“Our hardworking employees are actively taking part in humanitarian missions nationwide”, PMG Otarra added.

“Through our concerted efforts, PHLPost hopes that we shall continue helping each other with dignity and pride. Because the essence of service is our love for the people, for the nation, and together we will win this fight”, PHLPost said in a statement.