The Philippines, according to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), faces environmental challenges with disproportionate impacts on the poor and women.
These challenges include ineffective management that seriously degrades the country’s significant biodiversity resources; water and air pollution levels that exceed generally accepted healthy standards and greenhouse gas emissions that are increasing from the transport and power sectors.
“The country is ranked as one of the world’s most vulnerable to the impacts of vulnerable disasters. For the Philippines to become a more stable, prosperous and well-governed nation, the country must become more environmentally resilient and better able to cope with the impact of natural disasters and recover quickly,” USAID said.
Natural resources and the economy
USAID added that natural resources play a critical role in the Philippine economy, as agriculture, fisheries and forestry represent about 10 percent of gross domestic product and account for almost 30 percent of employment. Equally important is the fact that this natural capital provides energy, water, flood control, storm mitigation and other environmental services that benefit the entire country, including cities.
Noting that public awareness and concern over the country’s environmental problems and their impact on the economic, social, political, cultural and moral life of Filipinos has remained insignificant, the late former President Corazon C. Aquino signed Proclamation No. 237 in 1988 declaring the month of June every year as Philippine Environment Month.
“While maintaining the observance of June 5 of every year as World Environment Day, there is necessity to heighten the environmental consciousness of our people and to generate greater participation and integration of efforts through the extended celebration of environmental protection concern and awareness in the country,’ the proclamation read.
Guided walking tour
IN CELEBRATION of the Philippine Environment Month and, in essence, the World Environment Day on June 5, Batangas Lakelands is once again offering a guided walking tour inside its nature-centric, 20-hectare leisure enclave that will showcase the raw beauty of nature.
Batangas Lakelands is a premium active-lifestyle park located in a safe and secured environment at the heart of the Taal Lake District of Batangas. It is a park that offers outdoor adventure, sports, leisure and entertainment activities. With more than 20 hectares of land ear, this nature enclave is the newest outdoor destination just 60 minutes away from Metro Manila.
Titled Pasyal-Lakad para sa Kalikasan, this walking tour is now on its 3rd year this 2023 and is annually enjoyed by both nature lovers and casual travelers alike.
It will also feature some of Batangas Lakelands’ homegrown trees of more than 36 different types. With around 3,600 tree species in the Philippines, this walking tour will already “expose” you too one percent of the country’s known species.
Three nature walks
THE nature walk starts at 7 am and will be held on June 10, 17 and 24. So if you intend to join, make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and to bring your water containers with you to make sure that you are hydrated at all times.
The Pasyal-Lakad para sa Kalikasan is free to all Batangas Lakelands guests who will avail of their adventure packages that start at only P400 per person, inclusive of access to the park’s signature activities such as biking, archery and bus tour. For the more adventurous ones, Batangas Lakelands also offers unlimited zipline, unlimited wall climbing, and unlimited rappelling, all for only P599 per person.
“Batangas Lakelands’ goal is to bring people and nature together,” said Anna Ortiz, Vice President of Batangas Lakelands. “We hope that through activities like this, we all get a renewed appreciation of Mother Nature and do what we can to save our environment.”
Batangas Lakelands is located along Leviste Highway, Balete, Batangas. For inquiries or reservations, follow @batangaslakelands on Facebook or Instagram. You may also contact them at (0917) 852-7735, (0917) 869-1619, (0917) 869-1640 and (02) 7623-9465. You may also send an email to tours@lakelands.com.ph. For more information, you may visit www.batangaslakelands.ph
