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FPE, Globe Team Up Anew for Environmental Conservation Efforts

The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) recently signed into  a partnership with Globe Telecom, Inc., formalizing a collaborative effort to establish an information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure that will support the Foundation’s Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas project. Through the pact, Globe becomes FPE’s official telecommunications partner for the said initiative.

The involvement of the telecom industry giant — through the “iConserve” pillar of its corporate social responsibility program called “Globe Bridging Communities” — aims to address the vital communications needs of FPE’s local partners and stakeholders enlisted in the project’s forest co-management plans, particularly for the purposes of reliable correspondence and monitoring of activities. Aside from enablement through the said means, Globe will also be contributing to the welfare and protection of designated project site marshals.

Under the terms of the agreement which takes effect on January 30, 2014, Globe will mobilize ICT infrastructure support in the form of 364 refurbished mobile phone units, 314 specialized Globe Bridging Communities (GBC) SIM cards, and accident insurance covering 400 Bantay Gubat patrol members deputized at the eight Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by the project. All of these are expected to be provided on or before February 1, 2015.

FPE will be responsible for the turnover of the materials and the registration of the designated Bantay Gubat members for the accident insurance. Community events are due to be scheduled and organized later within the period of the deal for these purposes.

The Up-Scaling Forest Restoration Efforts in Key Biodiversity Areas project has been implemented through the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Its primary goal is the improvement of biodiversity conservation efforts in the Polillo group of islands and Mt. Banahaw-San Cristobal Protected Landscape in Luzon; North Negros Natural Park, Ilog-Hilabangan Watershed Forest Reserve, Nug-as, Dalaguete, and Tabunan Critical Forest Habitat, and Mt. Nacolod Watershed in Visayas; and the Arakan Valley Forest Corridor and Panigan-Tanugan and Talomo-Lipadas in Mindanao.

The new partnership reaffirms FPE and Globe’s collaborative engagement toward environmental conservation and sustainable development goals. In 2012, FPE also signed into an agreement with Globe Bridging Communities for mobile technology support intended to contribute to the efficient reporting and monitoring of the various activities entailed in the implementation of the government’s National Greening Program (NGP) within a selection of sites where FPE is involved.