Public Journalism Interventions for the Negros Green Corps

	Members of the Negros Green Corps hosting a forum on the environment in Bacolod City.

Backgrounder: The conceptualization and organization of the Negros Green Corps was inspired by the learnings of some media practitioners from Region 6 (particularly from the province of Negros Occidental) during a lakbay-aral or study tour on Environment Management & Protection in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. The October 2-5, 1997 activity was sponsored by the Local Government Support Program - Canadian International Development Agency (LGSP-CIDA) and the Philippine Information Agency and facilitated by the Evelio B. Javier Foundation. The environmental issue was the common focal point between Palawan and Neg. Occ. and the initiatives of the Palawan media, the LGU, and an NGO on environment working separately and working together at times on a shared concern were the learning points of the Negros media. This served as an inspiration to form the NGC, aiming to do more than the Palawan media by organizing mainly to address environmental issues so that undertakings will be collectively rather than individually planned & implemented.

On August 14-18, 1998, the concept of Public Journalism was introduced by the EBJF to selected media practitioners of Region 6 in a workshop conducted in Boracay, Aklan. (This run was supported by the Friedrich Naumann Stiftung (FNS) and was one of the three activities which were supposed to complement the PJ efforts as supported by the Ford Foundation.) The “Magnificent Seven” of the Negros Green Corps were invited to share their experience in giving shape and direction to the newly-formed media NGO and their mission to act as catalysts of community environment programs and create venues for the public to be active participants or contributors to these programs. (please see attached brochure).

Activities conducted by the Negros Green Corps, supported and facilitated by the EBJF:

1.  Roundtable Discussion with selected colleagues (July 18, 1998 in Bob’s Restaurant, Bacolod) to discuss the formation of Negros Green Corps

2.  Visioning Workshop / Roundtable Discussion to finalize presentation in Boracay
     (August 8, 1998 at Bob’s Restaurant, Bacolod City)

• this was an organizational strengthening activity for the newly formed media group.
  
• the officers and members of the NGC crafted together their vision, mission, goals, and activities. Its mission is 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.In undertaking this mission, it envisions the realization of an ecologically-balanced Negros Occidental where a self-sustaining network of environmental protection efforts exists brought about by an empowered citizenry, responsive local governance, and a vigilant and participative media.

3.  Lecture on Environment Reporting and Launching of the Negros Green Corps
     (Sept 26 1998, L’Fisher Hotel, Bacolod City) 

• invited PCIJ and environment writer Howie Severino to give insights and tips in reporting on environmental issues and concerns

4.  “All You Wanted to Know About Coal-Fired Power Plants 
     But Didn’t Get Around to Ask”
     Dec 5 1998 at Hotel Alhambra, Bacolod City

• A sharing session initiated by the Negros Green Corps for media practitioners and government information officers regarding the controversial coal-fired power plant being planned to be put up in the sourthern Negros town of Pulupandan.
  
• invited resource persons were representative of the LGU of Masinloc, Zambales, and from the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Center, Inc. who presented their actual case study, some technical inputs, environmental laws etc.
  
• this activity was presented as a public journalism initiative by the NGC to enlighten, clarify the media practitioners for them to disseminate better the information to the public and encourage citizen involvement on a local issue.
  
• this was participated in by the private local press, government media practitioners, information officers, DENR-CENRO representatives, some NGO representatives

5.  Seminar-Workshop on “Supporting Public Journalism Initiatives for Sustained 
     People’s Participation in Local Governance”
     (August 7-8, 1999, Palmas del Mar, Bacolod City)

• the public journalism concept was introduced to the local media practitioners in the province; a lecture and workshop on ethics & values clarification, and a session on the ‘participation in local governance’ with a sharing of the Aklan experience on how they engaged citizens in addressing an issue through a multi-sectoral council.

6.  Forum on Clogged Waterways
     (June 20 2000 at Alhambra Hotel, Bacolod City)
     (please see documentation)

7.  Developing PJ Projects in Negros Occidental
     Oct 27-29 2000 at Palmas del Mar, Bacolod City

• wherein the June 20 “Waterways of Negros Workshop” outputs were reviewed
  
• wherein media, LGU & civil society interfaced to plan the management of the clogged waterways of 8 municipalities in Negros Occ.; the different actors identified their roles and how they can work together. (see attached documentation)

9.  Speechfest on Waterways Management

1. the Toastmasters Club, a partner of the NGC, was invited to provide technical inputs in the conduct of said speechfest for student-participants.
2. the schools cooperated and supported this activity.

The officials present during the interview were - Engr. Peladio Mondragon, ABC Chairman Mario Gamboa, Station Commander Col. Celestino Guara, and Information Officer Ed de la Fuente. All are members of the Disaster Coordinating Council and the Task Force on Waterways (a provincial government effort). Both Engr. Mondragon and ABC chairman Gamboa attended the NGC-initiated Forum in Hotel Alhambra & the Palmas del Mar seminar.

According to interviewees, the flood last January 2001 was the worst flood (after a long long time) that hit Silay city. The Council did its job of easing the effects of the flood. The greater challenge now is to formulate short & long term plans, and these include:

• passage of an ordinance to make all conscious/aware of the latest flood level
• formulate a flood control program
• replicate the disaster coordinating council in the barangays
• follow-up on the commitment of the newly-elected governor Maranon (who was the former mayor of Sagay City) for a dredger
• the Gov. acknowledged the need to create a Task Force to study the topography of the City
• the Gov. encouraged the training of volunteers for rescue since there is a recent acquisition of rescue vehicles.
• NGOs organized communities for organic farming, massive mangrove reforestation.

There is no need for advocacy work because all know about the floods & its effects. T he greater problem is economics.

Results of Information Drive of Chairman De la Fuente:

1. erased myths causing the floods such as poor waste management, deforestation, overflow if the Tinangug River. The floods was caused by something else.
   
2. residents are now aware that it was caused by the topography of the City

Before the floods of January, the local officials encouraged the residents to clear the waterways like the 3 creeks.

NOTE: it was validated by the Officials that the NGC point person (*NGC and media point persons were identified during the Palmas del M1ar workshop) who was to assist in the management of the clogged waterways project was not visible. There was no mention of Ver, the point person. During the January floods, media in general could not get any first hand information because they could not get through he floods, they merely used the cellphone to get information.

Results of interview with Victorias City officials re Waterways mgt.:

Mr. Mario Torema & Engr. Mary Jean Casibo(Gen. Services) both were in the Forum. There was no follow-through done by the NGC. According to Mr. Torema, one of the positive results of the Forum initiated by the NGC was Victorias City’s realization that the clogged waterways was also a concern of the other cities & municipalities, that the problem is big, and that the different sectors, especially the media, of the community can do something about it. They at the City are working on their clogged waterways through clearing, information dissemination about the importance of citizens helping in this undertaking, and they also have an active disaster coordinating council.

Results of FGD with Sagay City’s officials re Waterways Mgt.:

NO action, no follow through by media-NGC after the 20 June Forum. On their own, the City dredged their 2 rivers. There was siltation due to wastes, erosion and other contributing factors. Sagay requested for the clustering of 9 municipalities to form the Northern Negros Mrine Resource Management Council ( Sagay, Calatrava, San Carlos, Victorias, Escalante, Don Salvador Benedicto, Cadiz, Toboso, and Manapla) to address their immediate problem about flashfloods and other environmental concerns. There is a MOA signed by the 9 mayors.

• Not helpful Factors encountered by media:
• Waning interest of community.
• Waning interest, non-compliance of media point persons in their planned activities for the Waterways Project in their assigned places of concern.
• Lack of financial/logistical resources e.g. for mobility expenses (this example was given by Agnes J.)
• Other issues like the elections (local & national) competing for media attention.
• Lull in the time & effort expected of the NGC president (Agnes left for a travel/study grant for a month)
• None of the members & officers backstopped the president during the lull

Helpful Factors encountered by media:

• skilled media
• commitment of media partners, specially the core
• receptive community, LGU officials
• supportive media management
• help from EBJF/PCIJ

Mechanisms to Sustain PJ Activities:

• regular slots provided by management
• sponsors for regular fora or activities.

Insights of Marlin Sanogal (PIO) --- because of the nature of media work, it is difficult to really conduct PJ activities. These activities need resources esp. financial/logistical. Fora conducted were successful but no follow-up activities in the communities.