By Greentech
Lead Team: Globe Telecom, a telecommunications company in the Philippines,
announced its sustainable environmental protection projects across the
country, the Globe Cordillera Challenge, Globe Adventure Taal and Green Line
project.
The Globe
Cordillera Challenge aims to help increase public consciousness on the need to
reforest the Cordilleras Mountains. The fund-raising sports activity allows
participants to go through a challenging bike ride using the back roads of
Benguet.
As part of
Globe Goes Green, Globe spearheaded an annual environment signature event
called the Cordillera Challenge to raise consciousness and funds for the
reforestation of the Cordillera Mountains. By rebuilding the forests of
the Cordilleras, Globe helps secure the water supply, protect biodiversity, and
conserve the heritage of the Cordillera people.
From the
mountains of the Cordilleras, Globe further expanded its environment protection
campaign to include Taal Lake, Philippines’ third largest lake which supplies
up to 40 percent of the fish protein requirement of the Southern Tagalog
region.
Globe joins
hands with PUSOD, an environmental non-government organization, to launch Globe
Adventure Taal. Globe Adventure Taal is a three-event adventure race consisting
of kayaking, running and biking in the eastern shore of the Taal Volcano
Protected Landscape to inform and educate the public on the importance of
protecting vital eco-systems as well as provide opportunities for the people to
demonstrate their passion to support a worthy cause.
Globe and
PUSOD staged the first Globe Adventure Taal for Clean Water at Mataasnakahoy,
Batangas on November 26, a 50-kilometer adventure race composed of biking,
kayaking, and running segments in and around the Taal Lake basin.
Globe
Adventure Taal enables Globe and PUSOD to raise funds for the establishment of
a water quality monitoring system to ensure that the Taal Lake water quality
will remain at Class B, or still be considered as recreational waters with no
heavy influx of pollutants that cannot be integrated into the ecosystem.
Globe also
promotes environmental vigilance through its Green Line project by providing
the people a venue for addressing concerns over the worsening state of the
Philippine environment and the life-threatening effects of air and water
pollution, forest denudation, and the irresponsible waste disposal, among other
matters.
Using mobile
technology, the first Green Line project was launched in Bulacan with hotline
number, where residents can report environmental crimes and violations via
call, text, or MMS (multi-media service).
It also
includes mobile communication for the seven Quick Response Teams (QRTs)
deployed to check on the Water Quality Management Areas in Meycauayan, Marilao,
Obando, San Jose del Monte, Sta. Maria, and Caloocan in Bulacan and in
Valenzuela City. The QRTs are trained to handle various environmental
complaints such as solid waste problem, water and air pollution, hazardous
wastes, quarrying and illegal logging.
Green Line
also addresses the air pollution problem in Metro Manila caused by the
worsening traffic situation, unsustainable urbanization, and increasing
emission of pollutants. Through its “Ligtas Hangin Program”, anyone
can easily report smoke belching vehicles through text
messages.
Globe
further strengthens its environmental advocacy through a partnership with World
Wildlife Fund – Philippines, starting with a donation of P1 million to WWF’s
Philippine Fund for Nature and a possible collaboration on eco-tourism using
Globe GCASH.
Aside from
internal efforts, Globe also institutionalized an integrated program on the
environment called Globe Goes Green, an engagement campaign that seeks to
integrate key environmental initiatives to business strategy.