Globe, foundation to use mobile technology for greening program

WITH the common goal and vision of conserving the environment, Globe Telecom and the Foundation for Philippine Environment (FPE) have entered into a partnership that would utilize mobile technology in ensuring the success of the government’s National Greening Program (NGP).

FPE is one of two organizations that represent the civil society organizations under the NGP Partnership Agreement with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). It oversees the production, planting and maintenance of 50 million seedlings of indigenous trees species with the help of FPE’s extensive network of indigenous people and non-government organizations (NGO).

Under the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signed by Globe and FPE in the presence of DENR Assistant Secretary for Special Projects Marlo Mendoza, Globe Corporate Social Responsibility team shall provide Information and Communications Technology (ICT) support to FPE to enable the quick registration of the seedlings, as well as allow ease of payment between DENR and the participating peoples organizations and assisting NGOs.

DENR Assistant Secretary Marlo D. Mendoza (right) talks about the importance of the government’s National Greening Program during the contract signing between Globe and FPE. Main signatories to the MOA are Globe CSR Head Rob I. Nazal (2nd from left) and FPE CEO Atty. Danny Valenzuela (2nd from right). ASEC Mendoza and Globe Corporate Communications Head Yoly C. Crisanto (left) witnessed the signing. (Contributed photo)

Monitoring and evaluation of the whole effort will be enabled through Globe donation of mobile phones, Globe Bridging Communities SIM cards with special discounted rates and the provision of a P5,000-monthly Text Connect facility for efficient and real-time monitoring of production, planting and maintenance progress.

Specifically, Globe will donate mobile phones and SIM cards to 380 indigenous people organizations, people’s organizations, and NGOs, as well as to 88 assisting non-government organizations and stakeholders in 51 provinces and 168 municipalities and cities engaged by FPE for NGP.

“One of the pillars of Globe Bridging Communities is iConserve where we show active corporate citizenship in the protection, rehabilitation, and conservation of critical environmental areas in the Philippines just like what NGP is doing to mitigate the destruction of the country’s natural resources. So through this partnership, we hope to provide the critical enabling technologies to help FPE see through its support mandate to the implementing community-based partners and local stakeholders,” said Rob Nazal, Globe head for Corporate Social Responsibility.

“We are glad to be working with Globe Telecom in seeing through our commitment to help our network of NGOs toward contributing to the NGP. ICT, particularly mobile technology which Globe is offering, is a critical tool for the indigenous peoples organizations to be actively engaged, for service payment and advisory support to be efficient, and for the program’s over-all monitoring, reporting, and evaluation systems to happen in real time,” said lawyer Danny Valenzuela, FPE chief executive officer.

Globe also committed to provide free internet connection, allow use of laptops, and give free calls during critical project activities participated in by the organizations involved in NGP.

Aside from the technology support, Globe will also assist the indigenous communities in opening mobile bank accounts through BPI-Globe BanKO Partners Outlets nationwide.

Globe will provide subsidy on ATM costs to make it easier for the underprivileged groups to avail of the banking service. BPI-Globe BanKO will be used to facilitate payment of service fees to the indigenous peoples’ beneficiaries. (PR)