FILIPINOS AWARDED SIX OUT OF 13 GREEN APPLE ENVIRONMENT AWARDS IN UK

23 November 2006 — Philippine Ambassador to the Court of St. James Edgardo B. Espiritu reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that six of the 13 international recipients of the 2006 Green Apple Environment Awards were from the Philippines, with the awarding ceremony held on 20 November 2006 at the House of Commons in Central London. 

British Secretary of State for Health and Member of Parliament Patricia Hewitt sponsored the award, which seeks to recognize projects to protect the environment. 

Deputy Chief of Mission Reynaldo A. Catapang from the Philippine Embassy received the award on behalf of Kalibo Save the Mangrove Association that was chosen Green Champion for the year. Gold awardee Ecosystems Research and Development Bureau from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources was represented by Dr. Mitzi Pollisco. Negros Occidental Governor Joseph G. Marañon and Mr. Ruben Villanueva received the Silver Awards for Negros Occidental and Leyte Agricultural Corporation, respectively. 

Mr. Catapang likewise received the award on behalf of the Bugang River Tour of Pandan, Antique, upon the request of Antique Governor Salvacion Z. Perez.  The award for Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation, which was unable to send a representative, was also received by the Deputy Chief of Mission. 

Ambassador Espiritu said, “the awards highlighted the international standards of our efforts in the Philippines to protect the environment.” 

The Green Apple Environmental Award is organized by the Green Organization, an independent, non-political, non-activist, non-profit environment group dedicated to recognizing, rewarding, and promoting environmental best practice around the world. 

The other international awardees for this year came from France, Jordan, Brazil, Egypt, and Trinidad & Tobago. There were two recipients each from Brazil and Trinidad & Tobago.  END

/jay

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