RC Makati has added another feather in its cap with the remarkable achievement of the Feed Back program, which bagged 1st runner-up in the nationwide search conducted by the Philippine Rotary Media Foundation, Inc. (PRMFI) for the Most Outstanding Environmental Project Awards in the Philippines for RY2023-24. The awards were presented during the Awards & Turnover Night held on June 29 at the Palms Country Club in Alabang, Muntinlupa.
Present to witness the triumph and receive the award were IPP Bing Matoto, PDG Tony Quila, PDG Sid & Tesha Garcia, who is also the vice-chair for the Environmental Awards, PDG Pepz Bengzon and partner Doris, Dir. Rodrigo Segura, PE Eddie Galvez, PP Bimbo Mills, Philip Soliven, who chairs the Feed Back program, PP Louie Aseoche, and PP Bimbo Mills. They were joined by representatives from ARK, Iris Alonso and Ode Soliven.
The Feed Back program, in partnership with Advancement for Rural Kids (ARK), focuses on establishing sustainable vegetable exchange programs in various communities. This initiative not only promotes sustainability but also emphasizes that caring for the environment begins at home. In the Philippines, rural communities, home to 60 million people—half of the population—face severe environmental degradation. Encouraging eco-friendly practices like tree planting and coastal cleanups is challenging when over a third of these communities are impoverished, hungry, and desperate to find their next meal. This desperation often forces families into environmentally destructive acts like forest burning or dynamite fishing to earn income and feed their families. When basic survival is at stake, thinking about future environmental sustainability becomes nearly impossible.
The Feed Back program addresses these challenges by empowering communities with the knowledge and resources to cultivate and exchange vegetables. This not only provides a sustainable source of nutrition but also fosters economic independence and community resilience. By improving food security, the program reduces the pressure on families to resort to environmentally harmful practices, thereby promoting long-term environmental sustainability.
The road to the award was not easy. First, the Feed Back program had to win at the district level to be nominated at the national level. Besides the Feed Back program, two more RC Makati projects entered the top five at the district level—the BGC Greenway project chaired by PP Charlie Rufino and the Save Our Reefs project initiated by PP Peter Manzano. On April 2, District 3830 conducted its presentation of the top five finalists, where Philip Soliven and PP Louie Aseoche led the presentation for Feed Back.
Following the win at the district level, Feed Back competed at the national level against nine other winners from other districts in the Philippines. This stage required us to submit presentations and videos showcasing our work. On June 9, at the Palms Country Club, PP Louie presented the program in front of the national judges, with assistance from Iris of ARK.
RC Makati received a total cash prize of P250,000, with P50,000 coming from the district as the top winner and P200,000 from PRMFI as the 1st runner-up winner. This award would not have been possible without the support of our partner ARK through Ayesha Vera Uy, their CEO and Founder, as well as the support and guidance from our own district led by PDG Mildred Vitangcol, PP Doris Ensomo, and CP Danny Abinoja.
This award again puts RC Makati in the nationwide spotlight and provides significant exposure to the Feed Back project, which will now be known to other Rotary clubs. This recognition is a testament to RC Makati’s unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and community development. The Feed Back program has not only made a positive impact on the environment but has also set a benchmark for other Rotary clubs to follow.
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