Bayer launches ‘Search for Young Environmental Envoys’

Bayer Philippines and Luntiang Pilipinas, in cooperation with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), launched yesterday the Search for Bayer Young Environmental Envoys. Dr. Iris Loettgert, Bayer Philippines VP for corporate services, Ester Albano-Garcia, CHED Chairperson, and Sen. Loren Legarda-Leviste, Luntiang Pilipinas honorary chairperson, explained the project during the media launch at the Peninsula Manila.

The search is open to all college students, 18 to 24 years old, currently enrolled in a CHED-recognized college or university, who show a genuine concern for the environment.

The search started in Thailand in 1995 and was adopted by the Asia Pacific regional office of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in 1997. This year, Bayer Philippines decided to launch the same project here in the country.

The company found a perfect partner in Luntiang Pilipinas, an organization spearheaded by Legarda-Leviste, which is committed to promoting sustained protection and preservation of the environment. A staunch environmentalist even before she became senator, Legarda-Leviste has been working to develop a corps of eco-warriors from the youth sector. And this Bayer project seemed to fit one of her organization’s action plans.

Sixteen young people will be chosen as Bayer Young Environmental Envoys via a nationwide search; four envoys each from Metro Manila, Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. These 16 will participate in an eco-camp to be held in a local venue. All these envoys will become members of the elite Bayer Young Environmental Envoys Club that will meet yearly to share and exchange views on environmental issues.

From the 16 envoys, seven will be chosen to join their counterparts from Thailand and Singapore in a week-long, all-expense paid trip to Germany in October. The trip will afford winners first-hand exposure to environmental best practices. This search will be done annually.

For more information call 1-800-10-ENVIRON (3684766) or write to Bayer at P.O Box 4600 Manila, or log on to www.youngenvironenvoy. com.