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FPE’s Regional Advisory Committees Convene Anew

Posted on February 28, 2017

The Foundation for the Philippine Environment (FPE) Regional Advisory Committees (RAC) convened last November 2016 to January 2017 to welcome their newly elected members and discuss critical environmental concerns in their respective regions.

The RACs are 15-member committees in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao that ensure regional representation in the FPE governance system. They give advice on policies, program development and governance to the FPE Board. The RACs also provide a crucial link between the FPE Board of Trustees, and the regions from where they hail by apprising them of issues, concerns and affirmative actions of local CSOs.  

FPE Chair & CEO Dr. Lourdes Simpol swears in the new Visayas Regional Unit (VRU) RAC members. FPE also salutes the outgoing VRU RAC Members, who served FPE from 2014-2016: Ms. Marissa Cano, Ms. Virginia Jontilano, Ms. Josefa Pizon, Mr. Herminigildo Sanchez, and Dr. Oliver Gimenez (not in photo). 

The Visayas RAC with FPE Trustees and staff. Standing, from left: Mel Fatric Rhai Yan (VRU PSC Project Officer), Nance Estolloso (Region 18), Vincent Ben Avila (Region 8), Elsie Viliran (Region 18), Ricardo Peteros (Region 8), Leo Mamicpic (RAC Coordinator & Region 18), Luna Belaong (Region 6), Joelyn Soldevilla Biag (Region 8), Dann Diez (Region 7), Paterna "Pat" Ruiz (Region 7), Dr. Jurgenne Primavera (FPE Trustee and Visayas Representative), Dr. Lourdes Simpol (FPE Chair & CEO), Dr. Paciencia P. Milan (Former FPE Chair & CEO), Ramon Peñalosa (FPE Trustee), Ma. Elena Allado (Region 6) Seated, from left: Desiree Ninfa Segovia (Region 6), Marissa Cano (Outgoing RAC member), Oliver Agoncillo (FPE Executive Director), Fr. Fred Placa (Region 8), Ramie V. Debuayan (FPE Visayas Regional Unit Manager), Reynic S. Alo (Region 18), Ellen Grace Gallares (Region 7) (Not in photo: Aladino Moraca, representing Region 18)

Individuals elected as RAC members come from NGOs, people’s organizations, the academe, and other environment and development groups, and are instrumental to the crafting and updating of FPE’s Regional Environmental Agendas (REA). Each RAC member sits on the committee for a two-year term. The meetings were held on November 4, 2016, in Cebu City for Visayas, December 7-9, 2016 in Quezon City for Luzon, and January 4-6, 2017 in Davao City for Mindanao.

The Luzon RAC - seated, from left: Fr. Renato dela Rosa (Region V), Ms. Vernie Diano (outgoing RAC Member), Ms. Salvacion Pernito (Region V), Ms. Sonia R. Sapico, Ms. Lorena Villareal (Region III), and standing, from left: Mark Bagsit (LRU Project Officer), Mr. Rudy Flores (Region III), Mr. Carlito Aquino (Region V), Mr. Enrico Arvesu (Region IV-A), Ms. Miriam Javier (Region I), Ms. Jane Yap-Eo (CAR), Ms. Amiella Marie Salazar (Region III), Ms. Roxanne Esther Veridiano (Region I), Ms. Florence Baula (LRU Project Officer), Ms. Dionesia Banua (Region IV-B), and Ms. Raffi Domingo (LRU Manager)

Each of the RACs convened for a formal turnover, welcoming the new members and thanking the outgoing members. The RACs reviewed their respective Regional Environmental Agenda (REA), and planned for next steps. The Foundation’s Strategic Plan was also presented to the RACs, to be viewed vis-à-vis the environmental concerns faced in each region. Apart from the regional celebrations for FPE’s 25^th Anniversary, a key item in the agenda was the National RAC Partners - Experts Advisory Pool Conference to be held in August 2017. 

Newly elected members of the Luzon RAC take their oaths, led by Coordinator Ms. Sonia R. Sapico (front).  From left: Mr. Enrico Arvesu, Ms. Roxanne Esther Veridiano, Mr. Rudy Flores, Ms. Miriam Javier, Mr. Carlito Aquino, Ms. Jane Yap-Eo, Ms. Amiella Marie Salazar, and Ms. Dionesia Banua. 

To further refine and update the Luzon REA, during the Luzon RAC meeting, a series of Round Table Discussions (RTDs) were held on the specific issues that the REA seeks to respond to: Unsustainable Resource Use & Practices, Mining, Land Conversion & Mega-Infrastructures, and Community Empowerment in Environmental Governance.

FPE Chair & CEO Dr. Simpol with the newly elected Mindanao RAC members, Ms. Emma Hotchkiss (Caraga), Datu Jemuel Perino (Camiguin-Bukidnon-Misamis Oriental), and Ms. Esperancita Hupida (Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi Tawi)

The Mindanao RAC members with FPE staff and trustees

The Mindanao RAC Meeting and Turnover Ceremony was held back to back with a Monitoring and Evaluation training for the Mindanao RAC members, to enhance capacities and aid in program development for the region.