Batangas City hailed as One Planet City Challenge 2019-2020 country winner for the Philippines

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The capital city of Batangas province has been named the Philippine winner in the latest edition of the World Wide Fund for Nature’s (WWF) One Planet City Challenge, joining the list of national winners from 22 countries worldwide.

The city’s comprehensive climate mitigation and adaptation plan, which includes interventions based on city-specific climate vulnerabilities, impressed the urban sustainability experts from across the globe that compose the OPCC jury. Batangas City also reported an ambitious target for carbon neutrality by 2030 and its vision to be the first carbon-neutral city in the Philippines.

In a letter from the OPCC Team in Stockholm, the jury acknowledged the city’s aggressive efforts in promoting climate risk assessment.

“Batangas City showed particularly strong performance related to its vision. The city scored well across different indicators especially political action and climate risk assessment and evidence of action, especially related to adaptation.”

Together with Batangas City, fellow finalists Muntinlupa and Santa Rosa, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Dipolog, La Carlota, Pasig, San Carlos, Tagum, Malolos, Parañaque, and Quezon City, were included in the country’s roster of qualifiers for OPCC 2019-2020.

WWF-Philippines Executive Director Joel Palma praised the City of Batangas, as well as the other local qualifiers, for representing the Philippines well.

“I would like to commend the Batangas City LGU and all the other LGUs who have taken part in the OPCC. I would like to commend their efforts in finding solutions to ensure that development is made sustainable by putting into the equation the environment and people. The challenges we are facing now, particularly the pandemic, proves that there is a direct link between the health of the environment and the health and well being of people,” shared Palma.

Nearly 66% of the global population has been represented in the year’s OPCC leg, with 255 cities participating from over 53 countries across the globe.

Originally launched as the Earth Hour City Challenge, OPCC kicked off in 2011 as a biennial global challenge where cities are encouraged to share climate mitigation and develop adaptation plans centered in their critical role of building a sustainable and climate-safe future. Being accountable for 70% of carbon emissions globally and generating 80% of the total GDP, the political and economic power of cities are considered instrumental in the transition to a more stable climate.

Winners of this year’s OPCC are also eligible to participate in We Love Cities, a WWF campaign interwoven with the OPCC which aims to liaise better communication between city officials and the citizens they represent on climate change and sustainability issues. For more information and updates, log on to http://panda.org/opcc.

Kiefer Ravena, Gabe Norwood keep healthy as they wait for PBA return

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​Elite athletes always make sure to get the right nutrition not just for themselves, but for their family as well.

"I always watch everything I eat and drink especially after what happened to me a couple of years ago," said Kiefer Ravena, who was found with banned substances by FIBA due to a tainted supplement that resulted in a year-long suspension.

"Being an athlete of my age, I need to watch what I eat to help extend my career," added Gabe Norwood, who has been playing pro ball for 12 years. "And I need to teach my kids as well the importance of proper nutrition."

For Norwood and Ravena, they only trust one chicken -- Bounty Fresh.

Bounty Agro Ventures Inc. is the first and only poultry integrator in the country that does not inject any antibiotics to its chickens from day one. Yes, no traces of chemicals can be found in any of the wide line of products BAVI has.

"We pride ourselves in serving the Filipino people with chickens that have zero antibiotics in it. From our live to dressed to Chooks-to-Go and Uling Roasters, not even a speck of antibiotics can be found in them," said BAVI president Ronald Mascariñas.

Being owners of their own Chooks-to-Go branches, Ravena and Norwood can say that they eat what they serve.

"I only want to serve the best and the best means something that I can also serve to my parents and myself. That is why I can look anyone straight in the eye and say that I always eat the same chicken I serve in my Chooks-to-Go store," said Ravena.

Save the Children Philippines calls for end to exploitative and harmful work for children

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At the World Day against Child Labor, Save the Children Philippines calls for end to exploitative and harmful work for children


June 12, 2020 – In celebration of World Day Against Child Labor, Save the Children Philippines calls for an end to child labor to give every child the chance to thrive and develop to their fullest potential.


There are around 2.1 Million child workers aged 5-17 years old in the country as per the 2011 survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, most of them in hazardous and exploitative work conditions. Save the Children Philippines is concerned that figures may have changed already and the adverse impact of COVID-19 will push thousands of children into poverty, and forced labor as parents and guardians face loss of income and livelihood opportunities.



Atty. Alberto Muyot, Chief Executive Officer of Save the Children Philippines said children who live in poverty are the first to suffer the consequences of the economic impact of the pandemic.



“No child should be engaged in harmful work,” said Muyot.



Save the Children Philippines is committed to partnering with the national and local governments, civil society organizations, private sector, parents and schools in finding sustainable solution to the problem in line with Article 32 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 182 on the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor, and ILO Convention 138 on the Minimum Age of Employment.



Save the Children Philippines believes that deprived and marginalized children including those from Indigenous People’s communities, children with disabilities, out of school children and youth, children in conflict affected areas, those living in areas prone to natural disasters, and those from low income families are more vulnerable to exploitation and harmful work.



In the last 40 years, the child rights organization has been advocating children’s rights and implementing programs that include maternal and newborn healthcare, sustainable and inclusive learning, and protection from physical and humiliating punishments, and online sexual abuse and exploitation.



“We believe that every child has an inherent and inviolable right to health and survival, to play and learn and to be protected from all forms of abuse and violence including exploitative work,” Muyot said.