Bayer picks young environmental envoys to represen

Capping a three-day eco-camp program, seven young college students from various parts of the country were selected, from 16 Bayer Young Environmental Envoys chosen earlier, to join their counterparts from Thailand and Singapore in a week-long, all expense paid educational trip to Germany next month.

The seven students are: Leonardo Anderle of UP Los Baños, Tara Cantones of University of San Carlos (Cebu), Jean Dalagan of Mindanao State University (Marawi), Janice Lao of Ateneo de Manila, Benjamin Luis of UP Baguio, Graciela Mante of University of Cebu, and Jane Uy of Ateneo de Davao, with Lao topping the batch.

These seven envoys will have an opportunity to get first hand impressions of the broad spectrum of environmental protection measures that government and industry employ today in Germany. Sen. Loren Legarda, a noted environmentalist was keynote speaker for the evening.

The Search for Bayer Young Environmental Envoys was launched by Bayer Philippines, Inc. in partnership with Luntiang Pilipinas, an urban forestry program founded and chaired by Legarda and with the full support of CHED. The search began in Thailand in 1995 and was adopted by the Asia Pacific regional office of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1997. In the Philippines, the search began last June 26 and officially closed last July 30.

Interested students with a qualifying grade average were asked to submit a 500-word essay on his or her personal contribution to the environment and how this has made a difference. Sixteen college students were selected from four regions: Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. Four students were selected per region.

All 16 automatically become members of the elite Bayer Young Environmental Envoys Club that will meet early to share contributions and exchange views on environmental issues. The nine other envoys include Dollybeth Atchivara of Southern Christian College (Cotabato), Catherine Candano of Ateneo de Manila, Alexander Daguman of West Visayas State University, Rodel Deloria of St. Paul College Dumaguete, Rudymar Estinopo of Ateneo de Naga, Anthony Lorcha of Bicol University (Legazpi), Bryan San Juan of UP Diliman, Ivy Yecyec of Notre Dame of Kidapawan, and Angela Zafra of Ateneo de Manila.

The final choice of the seven envoys was done taking into consideration their personal action plans presented to a board of judges composed of DENR Undersecretary Manuel Gerochi, NYC Commissioner Bamban Aquino, Director Virginia Resurrecion of CHED, Hector Soliman, president of Haribon Foundation, and Tony Lopez of the Philippine Graphic and Manila Times.

According to Dr. Iris Loettgert, VP for corporate services of Bayer Philippines, the Search for Bayer Young Environmental Envoys will be conducted annually and is one of Bayer’s Responsible Care Projects for the environment, not just in the Philippines, but in Southeast Asia.