In 1997, several journalists from Region 6 composed of
the provinces of Negros Occidental, Iloilo, Aklan, Antique,
Capiz and Guimaras joined a four-day Study Tour on Environment
Management and Protection in Palawan. The trip was supported
by the Local Government Support Program of the Canadian
International Development Agency and facilitated by the
Evelio B. Javier Foundation.
Inspired by what they saw in Palawan, the journalists from
Negros Occidental formed what is now known as the Negros
Green Corps (NGC). Agnes Lira Jundos, of ABS-CBN Bacolod,
president of the NGC, says they were prodded by the need
for the media in the province "to act as catalysts of community
environment programs, create venues for the public to understand
these programs and be active participants or contributors
to these programs."
One of NGC's initial activities was the holding of a forum
on coal-fired power plants to provide an avenue for media
and citizens to discuss the pros and cons of the proposed
construction of the plant in a coastal municipality of Negros
Occidental. This was followed on June 20, 2000 by the Forum
on Clogged Waterways in Northern Negros. The dialogue was
held, said Jundos, "because of the impact that failure to
address the problem will have on the community." The activity
was also undertaken as the group's participation in the
Provincial Environment Week celebration.
The forum was designed to provide a venue for the government
and the various sectors, including the media, to come together
and discuss the waterways issue; what has been done so far,
what still needs to be done. The result s of the forum showed
how media contributed to providing citizens and government
an opportunity to look for solutions to a local problem.
The Negros Green Corps is composed of journalists from
print, radio and television. Their public journalism activities
are published or aired in their respective outlets.
CONTACT:
Ms. Agnes Lira Jundos
President, NGC
News Chief, ABS-CBN TV 4
Ms. Marlin Sanogal
Member, NGC
PIO, Province of Negros Occidental
