NGOs in the Philippines are calling on Filipinos to support environmental programs. Euro Generics International Philippines (Egip) Foundation communication and development manager Celina Le Niendre-Van Dierenrouck said in a media interview that most of the people who extend help on their environment initiatives are from abroad.Van Dierenrouck hopes that more Filipino landowners will buy lands to protect the lush forest of the country. She expressed that there is a need to educate and spread awareness on the benefits of planting trees as most cases, Filipino landowners only reforest land if they benefit from it. She revealed that what usually happens is landowners will plant fruit-bearing trees in barren lands then after five to ten years they will harvest the crop, leaving it empty once more.Similarly, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability, Inc. (IDIS) Knowledge Management Officer Yvette Balayon-Mahinay told SunStar Davao that most of their funding is from foreigners
The Indigenous Peoples Summit sought to address the issue of killings in Marilog, which have been primarily driven by land conflicts and personal disputes. The goal is to put an end to the killings and maintain peace and stability in the area.
The 13 Indigenous People killings in Marilog have diverse causes beyond land conflicts, says the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples. The NCIP is working closely with concerned agencies, including the army, tribal communities, and the Local Government Unit, to resolve these cases.